U.S. teens Anastasia Pagonis, Gia Pergolini steal the show at Paralympics

Anastasia Pagonis and Gia Pergolini are making the Paralympics their own.

Pagonis smashed the Paralympic record in the heats of the S11 400m freestyle in a time of 4:58.40, looking like she was the only one in the pool.

Then, in the finals, Pagonis once again dominated the competition to earn gold, this time breaking her own world record set at Paralympic Team Trials in June, in a time of 4:54.49.

Pergolini then continued the American world record breaking Thursday, winning gold in the S13 100m backstroke in a time of 1:04.64.

The time broke her own world record and marked back-to-back world records for the Americans following Pagonis’ record in the 400m freestyle.

The two-time world record holder earned her first gold medal, setting the Paralympic Record in the process. It’s a major improvement from the 1:06.82 she went two years ago to earn silver at the Paralympic World Championships in London.

Pergolini was also the highest-placing finisher for Team USA in the S11 100m butterfly, placing fifth.

For both, it’s their first Paralympic gold medals in their first Paralympic Games.