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S. R. No. 49 *SS08/R1384* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) McMahan, Harkins, Rhodes,
Kirby
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 49
A RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE COMMENDATION AND CONGRATULATIONS 1
OF THE MISSISSIPPI SENATE TO 17-YEAR-OLD RACHEL MCALPIN FROM 2
BRANDON, MISSISSIPPI, FOR WINNING THE GOLD MEDAL IN THE 50-METER 3
BREASTSTROKE AT THE 2025 WORLD AQUATICS JUNIOR SWIMMING 4
CHAMPIONSHIP IN OTOPENI, ROMANIA. 5
WHEREAS, we join the competitive swimming community in 6
honoring 17-year-old Rachel McAlpin from Brandon, Mississippi, for 7
winning the Gold Medal in the 50-meter breaststroke at the 2025 8
World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships held in Otopeni, 9
Romania, nearly 6,000 miles from her hometown on August 21, 2025; 10
and 11
WHEREAS, McAlpin is an incredible young woman. Mississippi's 12
new swimming world champion was home-schooled, has swum 13
competitively since the age of five and regularly swims for the 14
Flowood-based Mississippi Makos Swim Team. She has committed to 15
swim collegiately for the University of Arkansas, beginning in the 16
fall of 2026; and 17
WHEREAS, Rachel is the middle child of Chris and Christie 18
McAlpin's three daughters. She is deeply religious, soft-spoken 19
S. R. No. 49 *SS08/R1384* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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and exceedingly polite, which belies a fierce competitiveness. As 20
a swimmer, she is known as a strong finisher; and 21
WHEREAS, McAlpin fell behind early in her championship race 22
but then rallied as she typically does and touched .34 seconds 23
ahead of 18-year-old Smilte Plytnykaite of the Republic of 24
Lithuainia; and 25
WHEREAS, in winning, McAlpin equaled her personal best time 26
of 30.78 seconds; and 27
WHEREAS, "I knew I was in pretty good shape in the last 10 28
meters when I couldn't see anybody ahead of me," McAlpin said. "I 29
knew I just needed to hold on and I did." McAlpin has, no doubt, 30
spent countless hours training during the past decade-plus to 31
prepare for that 30.78 seconds of glory. Competitive swimming is 32
a full-time job athletically, requiring hours upon hours of 33
rigorous pool time, plus weight room workouts; and 34
WHEREAS, we in the Capitol had the honor of getting to know 35
Rachel personally when she paged for the Mississippi State Senate 36
in 2022. She is an amazing athlete, a great student, and we look 37
forward to following her career in professional athletics; and 38
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize a wonderful 39
ambassador for the State of Mississippi who has brought honor to 40
her family, her community and to her state: 41
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF 42
MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby extend the commendation and 43
congratulations of the Mississippi Senate to 17-year-old Rachel 44
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ST: Congratulate 17-year-old Rachel McAlpin
from Brandon for winning gold medal at swimming
championship in Romania.
McAlpin from Brandon, Mississippi, for winning the Gold Medal in 45
the 50-meter breaststroke at the 2025 World Aquatics Junior 46
Swimming Championship in Otopeni, Romania, and extend to Rachel 47
and her family our best wishes for continued athletic and academic 48
success in her future endeavors. 49
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to 50
Rachel McAlpin and her family, forwarded to Team USA and made 51
available to the Capitol Press Corps. 52