Bill Text: MS SR49 | 2026 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Congratulate 17-year-old Rachel McAlpin from Brandon for winning gold medal at swimming championship in Romania.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 4)
Status: (Passed) 2026-03-13 - Adopted [SR49 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2026-SR49-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2026 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) McMahan, Harkins, Rhodes, Kirby
Senate Resolution 49
(As Adopted by Senate)
A RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE COMMENDATION AND CONGRATULATIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI SENATE TO 17-YEAR-OLD RACHEL MCALPIN FROM BRANDON, MISSISSIPPI, FOR WINNING THE GOLD MEDAL IN THE 50-METER BREASTSTROKE AT THE 2025 WORLD AQUATICS JUNIOR SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP IN OTOPENI, ROMANIA.
WHEREAS, we join the competitive swimming community in honoring 17-year-old Rachel McAlpin from Brandon, Mississippi, for winning the Gold Medal in the 50-meter breaststroke at the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships held in Otopeni, Romania, nearly 6,000 miles from her hometown on August 21, 2025; and
WHEREAS, McAlpin is an incredible young woman. Mississippi's new swimming world champion was home-schooled, has swum competitively since the age of 5 and regularly swims for the Flowood-based Mississippi Makos. She has committed to swim collegiately for the University of Arkansas, beginning in the fall of 2026; and
WHEREAS, Rachel is the middle child of Chris and Christie McAlpin's three daughters. She is deeply religious, soft-spoken and exceedingly polite, which belies a fierce competitiveness. As a swimmer, she is known as a strong finisher; and
WHEREAS, McAlpin fell behind early in her championship race but then rallied as she typically does and touched .34 seconds ahead of 18-year-old Smilte Plytnykaite of the Republic of Lithuainia; and
WHEREAS, in winning, McAlpin equaled her personal best time of 30.78 seconds; and
WHEREAS, "I knew I was in pretty good shape in the last 10 meters when I couldn't see anybody ahead of me," McAlpin said. "I knew I just needed to hold on and I did." McAlpin has, no doubt, spent countless hours training during the past decade-plus to prepare for that 30.78 seconds of glory. Competitive swimming is a full-time job athletically, requiring hours upon hours of rigorous pool time, plus weight room workouts; and
WHEREAS, we in the Capitol had the honor of getting to know Rachel personally when she paged for the Mississippi State Senate in 2022. She is an amazing athlete, a great student, and we look forward to following her career in professional athletics; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize a wonderful ambassador for the State of Mississippi who has brought honor to her family, her community and to her State:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby extend the commendation and congratulations of the Mississippi Senate to 17-year-old Rachel McAlpin from Brandon, Mississippi, for winning the Gold Medal in the 50-meter breaststroke at the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championship in Otopeni, Romania, and extend to Rachel and her family our best wishes for continued athletic and academic success in her future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Rachel McAlpin and her family, forwarded to Team USA and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
