Olympic gold medalist Lydia Jacoby was honored by the Seward City Council on Monday.
The 17-year-old, a senior at Seward High School, won a gold medal for Team USA during the women’s 100-meter breaststroke at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Jacoby also raced in the Olympics’ inaugural 400-meter mixed medley relay, where she and Team USA placed fifth, and in the 400-meter women’s mixed medley relay, where she and Team USA won silver.
Seward Mayor Christy Terry presented Jacoby with the legislation during the city council’s Monday meeting, where she also read the resolution. Among other things, the resolution highlights Jacoby’s years of competitive swimming experience and her commitment to training in an Olympic-sized pool during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Every citizen in and around Seward is extremely proud of Lydia Jacoby for such an amazing accomplishment,” the resolution says.
Jacoby, who attended Monday’s council meeting, thanked the council and the community for their support both during the Olympics and during other competitive swimming events.
“I’m sure I’ll say it a hundred more times, but thank you so much for all the support from all over Seward throughout my whole life,” Jacoby said Monday. “Since this has happened there’s been a lot more support from everywhere, but Seward’s really been behind me, even since I was really little. It means a lot to me.”
Jacoby was honored with a celebratory parade shortly after she arrived back in Seward, where supporters lined the streets to welcome her home, and was also honored with legislation approved by the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly.
Monday’s full meeting of the Seward City Council can be viewed on the city’s YouTube channel.
Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.
