Laura Gene Schwanger (born 1958[1]) is a retired American Paralympic athlete and adaptive rower.

She has competed at three Paralympic Games in track and field and returned twelve years later to compete in rowing at the 2008 Summer Paralympics.

[2][3] After graduating from Washington Township High School, New Jersey in 1977, Schwanger joined the United States Army and became a meteorological observer.

She took up athletics soon after then retired after the 1996 Summer Paralympics, she took up rowing in later 2006 after receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer.

She earned a master's degree in counseling and psychology at Immaculata College.