What happens when you spend your entire life believing you have to earn love? In this episode of Ego Was Here, Jessica Long, one of the most decorated Paralympians in history, shares the deeply personal story behind her extraordinary journey.
Born in Russia, placed in an orphanage, and adopted by an American family, Jessica grew up navigating disability, identity, belonging, and self-worth. From becoming the youngest American Paralympic gold medalist to winning 31 Paralympic medals across six Games, her life is often seen as a story of remarkable achievement.
But this conversation goes beyond medals.
Jessica opens up about feeling different, searching for where she belonged, and learning that success could never define her value. She reflects on resilience, body confidence, forgiveness, meeting her birth family, and how preparing to become a mother has changed the way she understands love, family, and identity.
This is a conversation about embracing your story, moving through self-doubt, and realizing that your worth has never depended on what you achieve.