Dream Big, Live Huge
By
September 29, 2015
For time:
400M Run
10 Handstand push-ups
15 Deadlifts (245/165)
25 Box jumps (30/24)
50 Pull-ups
100 Wallball shots, (20/14)
200 Double-unders
400M Run
Those, along with "Never give up" are inspirational sayings in any context. They took on a new meaning this weekend though when they were scrawled with Sharpie on skin, t-shirts, backpacks, and swim caps by the US Paralympic Swim Team.
I had the privilege of seeing these guys in action this weekend while volunteering at a swim meet for the Durango Swim Club. It is always inspiring to see what these kids can accomplish as swimming is a tough sport. This weekend was extraordinarily special though because this team of Paralympians preparing for the Paralympic Games in Rio were in attendance. Their disabilities were wide-ranging including blind athletes and athletes with missing and deformed limbs. They were initially noticed because of their disabilities, but slowly everyone present at the pool became aware of what these athletes were accomplishing in the water. They weren't just swimming in a swim meet; they were dominating their limitations and setting Paralympic records in the process. These guys were on a mission.
This team was class act from beginning to end. They supported one another as teammates do. They were generous and encouraging to younger swimmers from other teams. They even stayed around to autograph swim bags and t-shirts, take pictures with kids from other swim teams, and provide words of inspiration to our local swim team kids. I hope that we have the opportunity to cheer them on when they represent the United States at the Paralympic Games in 2016. I also hope that our local kids take with them an ounce of the motivation and determination that these athletes draw on every single day.
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