Hope College freshman Aaron Thomas earned a silver medal and clocked eight personal-best times at the 2024 U.S. Paralympics Swimming National Championships last weekend in Orlando, Florida.

Thomas (DeWitt, Michigan / DeWitt HS) claimed a silver medal in the 200-yard individual medley on Sunday by clocking a time of 2 minutes, 32.10 seconds, the second-fastest among the SM10 classification. 

Thomas earned his second career medal at the US Paralympics Swimming National Championships. The other medal was a bronze in the 200 breaststroke at the 2022 National Championships in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

On Saturday, Thomas finished fourth overall in two events.

In the 100 breaststroke, Thomas recorded a personal-best swim of 1:18.05 in the finals and came within a half-second of making the podium. He placed third among the SB9 classification. 

In the 50 breaststroke, Thomas posted a personal-best 50 breaststroke of 36.51 seconds in the opening half of the 100 breaststroke finals.

In the 100 backstroke, Thomas took 10th and first among the S10 classification with a swim of 1:12.69. He went a personal-best 1:12.57 during prelims, fastest among S10 swimmers.

In the 50 backstroke, Thomas went a personal-best 34.85 during the opening half of the 100 back prelims. He was fourth-fastest among S10 swimmers.

In the 50 freestyle, Thomas placed 15th in the finals and fourth among the S10 classification at 28.84 seconds. He posted a personal-best 28.71 during prelims and had the fourth-fastest swim among S10 competitors.

On Friday, Thomas finished eighth overall in the 400 freestyle by clocking a personal-best time of 4:47.84 that was second-best among the S10 classification. 

In the 200 freestyle, he swam a personal-best time of 2:25.30 during the opening half of the 400 freestyle prelim.

In the 200 breaststroke, Thomas went a personal-best 2:57.00 for a time that was fifth overall and fourth among S9 competitors.

The meet was held at the Rosen Aquatic and Fitness Center in Orlando.

Thomas is missing in his left hand his pinky, ring and middle fingers, and his index finger only goes up to his first knuckle. Brachydactyly is a genetic condition, and it happens because of a gene mutation that affects bone growth.