Little Rock native Jillian Elwart set to compete in 2024 Paralympic Games

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - You see something you want, go for it and don’t let anything stop you.

Little Rock native Jillian Elwart is a testament to that.

She will be competing in the 2024 Paralympics in Paris this August.

“You can push as hard as you can. You are your only limiter,” she said.

She'll be competing in the canoe kayak sprints in the Paralympic Games.

“It almost feels like a dream still,” she said.

The Olympian was born with a birth defect called proximal femoral focal deficiency where she’s worn a prosthetic leg her entire life.

“I truly don’t feel any different,” Elwart said. “I was raised to not depend on anyone.”

From Little Rock, Elwart now lives and works in Shreveport, Louisiana as a prosthetist at Shriners Hospital for Children, which is the same clinic she went to as a child.

“I hope the kids are learning from my example and if nothing else just learn to never say no,” she said.

Elwart said she travels to Little Rock weekly to train on the water.

“Even though I don't have a physical address here it's still home,” the North Little Rock High School graduate said.

This journey to the Olympics started in 2016 as just a hobby that she says got out of control, leading to her competing all over the world.

She has competed in Canada, Brazil, Tokyo, Portugal, Germany and now Paris, France.

On top of winning an Olympic medal, Elwart says “I kind of hope I meet Snoop Dogg.”

If she does get to meet Snoop, that will just add to the list of relationships the sport has helped her gain. She said the relationships have been the best part of the journey.

“My neighborhood is now the globe and not just Little Rock,” Elwart said.

Elwart leaves for Paris on August 26 and will compete on Sept. 6 and 7.

If you would like to wish her good luck before she goes, there will be a sendoff party at the Filling Station in North Little Rock on Aug. 4.

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