Team USA Paralympic athletes to watch for in Rio
They are referred to by many as “the superhumans.” It’s a noble and worthy moniker given this is bestowed on athletes who can do the semmingly impossible. By all accounts what they can do is considered impossible to many.
Today marks the opening ceremony for the Paralympic Games at the massive Maracana Stadium in Rio. If you don’t know, these games also arrive every four years in the backdrop of the main Olympic Games, also held this summer in Brazil’s capital city. Over 4,000 athletes from 160 nations will battle for gold in everything from archery to track and field.
This video created by the Paralympic Games’ official broadcast partner in Great Britain signifies just how awesome (and serious) these games are taken.
In the case of the United States, nearly 300 athletes (289 to be exact) will compete in 24 sports, with a few names going for more hardware after capturing success at the 2012 Games in London. Here is a look at some of the notables.
Matt Stutzman
One name to watch is American archer Matt Stutzman. Stutzman, who shoots using only his feet and his mouth, is the world record holder for the furthest accurate distance in men’s archery.
He collected silver in London, but odds have him the favorite to collect gold this time around.
Tatyana McFadden
Another notable is Tatyana McFadden, who will battle in track and field and looks for another clean sweep of gold medals, much like the one she had in London in the 400-, 800- and 1,500-meter events. This time, McFadden is going for broke, competing in seven events and favored in all of them.
That's right, McFadden will compete look to repeat in the 400, 800 and 1,500, and she's also competing, and favored, in the 100, 5,000 4x400 relay and marathon. Oh, and she's favored to win all of them. Basically, she's the Michael Phelps/Katie Ledecky of the Paralympics.
Seth McBride
Wheelchair rugby player Seth McBride will be in his third Paralympic Games with the hopes he can achieve gold yet again. The Alaskan and the USA rugby team took gold in Beijing 2008 but came up just short in London, taking bronze. McBride wants to reclaim to top spot and lead USA ruby back to the promised land.
Jill Walsh
Cyclist Jill Walsh heads to the Rio Games for the first time on a bike. A longtime distance runner, Walsh, 53, who diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, captured gold at the 2015 Para-Pan American Games and is looking to stay on her bike against some of the world’s best in the event and bring home gold for Team USA.
“I have worked as hard as I can work, and I want gold,” Walsh told the Team USA website. “But just being able to go there and be part of the team is honor enough.”
Dalton Herendeen
Swimmer Dalton Herendeen, who lost his leg after a blood clot, thought his Paralympic career was over in London after coming up short in his events, buhe has a second shot to medal in the 200-meter individual medley, 100 breaststroke, 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke and 400 freestyle.
“I told my coach, I’m done [after the London Games],” Herendeen said on the Team USA website. “But with this being most likely my last [Paralympic Games] I really focused down because I wanted to give myself the best opportunity to medal.”
These are merely a sample of the countless stories of courage and determination not just on Team USA, but worldwide, making it must-watch TV that all kicks off Wednesday.
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