McClain started swimming at the age of four and after her first season of competitive swimming proclaimed she would win gold at the Olympics. Without warning, McClain lost most of her vision at the young age of eight as a result of retinal detachment. This sudden change in life didn’t diminish her love for swimming. Her family discovered that she could compete in Paralympics and at the age of fifteen she fulfilled her dream to compete in Paralympic Games. McClain has gone on to win many medals. McClain and her father started a service project to collect and donate shoes for the homeless called Shoes for the Souls. She is also the recipient of the 2016 CVI Sarah Woolf Spirit Award for her achievements.

When and how did you start competitive swimming?M: At the age of four I dove into the pool and instantly fell tat home. After I completed my first season of competitive swimming I told my parents that I would go to the Olympics. Not only did I say that I was going to go to the Olympics, but I wanted to win a gold medal. One day I went blind. No warning at all. The first question I asked my mom when I went blind was if I would still be able to swim, and that was when we learned about the Paralympics. The Paralympics are parallel to the Olympic Games but for athletes with physical disabilities. At the age of 15 I made one dream come true. I competed in the 2016 Paralympic Games. In 2017 I became the world champion in the 400 freestyle. In 2018 I became the Pan Pacific Champion in the 400 freestyle. I hope to win a gold medal at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

Which one is your most memorable championships?M: My most memorable swimming competitions was the 2016 Paralympic Swimming Team Trials. This meet would decide who would compete at the 2016 Paralympic Games and I was determined to make the team. I swam best times in every event and ended up qualifying for the team. I was so excited to have made the Paralympic Team because I had worked very hard to make the team and my dream of becoming an Olympian was coming true.

Can you tell us how you got the idea for the “Shoes for the Souls” project? How many people have been helped through this project?M: My dad and I began Shoes for the Souls as a small service project in 2009. My dad and I wanted to give back to our community after they had helped us through all of my eye surgeries so we decided to collect shoes and donate them to the homeless. The first year we collected and donated 365 pairs of new and slightly used shoes to the Atlanta Mission, which serves homeless men, women, and children. That "small service project", started by an eight year old, has now collected and donated over 27,000 pairs of shoes to The Atlanta Mission.

What challenges did you face during your school years? How did you face these challenges?M: I faced a lot of different challenges during my school years. As I progressively went blind I had to adapt to my new situation. I started learning Braille in 6th grade which was very hard. I was a visual learner when I was younger and had to change my learning style to be an auditory and tactile learner. I also had to learn to use a cane and sighted guide to get around school. I was very shy in middle school and I did not like to ask for help so I had to learn how to self advocate for myself and to ask for help. Asking for help was very hard and I learned that it was better to ask for help than to struggle through school. I gained many close friends in my elementary and middle school years that grew with me and helped me learn how to be independent and successful.

What are your other hobbies?M: I really enjoy reading and writing. I love to listen to auditory books while I am getting ready for my day or relaxing at night. I also love to walk my dogs with my best friend and ride tandem bikes.

What do you like to do when you are with your family/friends?M: When I am with my friends and family I love to travel. My best friend and I love to travel to theme parks as well as go to the beach. I really enjoy traveling with my family all over the country and around the world.

Who is your favorite athlete? Which of his/her qualities do you admire?M: My favorite athlete is Olympic champion Missy Franklin. Missy swims with a relentless spirit and I strive to be like her every day in my swimming. My best friend Grace who died from cancer in 2018 is also one of my biggest inspirations. Grace competed in swimming despite the cancer ravaging her body and Grace never gave up despite her prognosis. Grace inspires me to go for the gold every single day. It is so hard to loose your best friend but I know that Grace is always with me every time I dive into the pool. I will win a gold medal for Grace at the 2020 Paralympic Games.

What is your suggestion for parents/families to empower children with disabilities?M: I want to educate people about the Paralympics and what I, and others, can do even if we are perceived as ‘disabled’ I believe that I am ‘enabled’. I hope to inspire other kids with disabilities to become active in adaptive sports and to show them that we may have to do things differently than our teammates but we can achieve the same goals and dreams that they have. I would also like to show other blind kids and adults that we can do whatever we want even if people tell us we cannot do something because we are blind.

Can you give tips/advice for those in our community who are interested in competitive swimming?M: I would like to encourage anyone who is interested in swimming to get involved in whatever way you can. Whether it be learning to swim or competing in the Paralympics or Olympics, swimming is a skill that everyone should possess. I think that it is important for kids with disabilities to chase their passion and do any activity that they would like to get involved in. Kids with disabilities can show their able bodied peers that even if we walk different, talk different, or do things a little differently, we can still do everything that they can do but we might just have to do it a little differently.

Any special message for our community?M: Follow your dreams, and just keep swimming!