For most people a morning routine includes waking up, brushing teeth, eating some food, walking around the house. Imagine doing the same routine without arms or legs. That might make it a bit more difficult. Now let’s take
this one step further. Go outside and try to throw a ball without hands or swim without using an arm. Things are getting more difficult. Can we even make this harder? Yes. How about winning an Olympic title competing against some of the most dedicated people in the world with these same disabilities? This is a reality for some people, and the competition is known as the Paralympics.

The Olympic Games started in Athens, Greece, the home of the Ancient Olympics, with only 241 athletes competing in the games. Now the games return every 4 years along with the Paralympics, which started in Rome, Italy in 1960. This year the competitions took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with thousands of motivated athletes.

One of the athletes who competed in the Paralympics was Achmat Hassiem, nicknamed “Shark boy” because he survived a shark attack in 2006.  Surprisingly, he has fought to protect sharks all around the world, ever since the attack. In his quest to save the type of animal that took his leg, he returns to Cape Town every year just to see the same shark that took his leg. Hassiem is a true fighter in the pool as well in the community. He is an inspiration to us all, as are all of the paralympic athletes who provide a great example for the next generation.

This year China won the Paralympics with a total of 239 metals, and the US came in fourth with 115 metals. Among the many records broken and achievements made, the first four finishers in the Paralympic 1500 meter race ran faster times than the fastest Olympic runner earlier this year. Another exciting feat includes the US women’s team beating the Chinese at paravolley and becoming the first country to do so in the history of Paralympics.

This has been an incredible year for all the Olympic competitions, and undoubtedly people are already eagerly awaiting the The PyeongChang Winter Olympics in 2018.