This past summer the world was sitting on their couches in a trance as they watched their favorite athletes effortlessly display their talents. Achievements of US athletes were displayed on all forms of media with the medal count constantly discussed. Most know that following the closing of the games, begins the start of the Paralympic Games, but the only coverage we seem to get are the few videos that are trending on Facebook. So to honor the talents of the athletes who donned the stars and stripes and brought home 115 medals, here are some recaps of the fifteenth summer Paralympic Games:
The U.S. men’s wheelchair basketball team won its first gold medal since the 1988 Paralympic games in Seoul. The co-captain of the team, Steve Serio scored over 40 points, and had over 30 assists over the last three games, pulling his team to victory. He has been playing in a wheelchair for more than half of his life.
Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky may have gotten all of the fame in the pool, and rightfully so, but someone who deserves to share the spotlight is Brad Snyder. Also a Maryland native, Snyder has accumulated seven medals and won three gold medals and a silver one during these games. Previously the captain of the US Naval Academy swim team, Snyder broke the record for the S11 100-meter freestyle with a time 56.15 seconds.
Not too many days ago, the U.S. women’s volleyball team brought home the first-ever sitting volleyball gold, when they defeated China. The team had been on an upward stride over the past games, with a bronze in the 2004 games, followed by silvers in the 2008 and 2012 games, and finally they realized the gold in the 2016 games.
It seems as though if you want to become a star swimming athlete, Maryland is the state to come from! Becca Meyers, a Baltimore native, set three world records in the aquatic center in Rio. Medaling in all of her events, she came home with three gold medals and a silver.
At 18 years old, Grace Norman snatched the gold medal in the women’s PT4 triathlon, with a shocking time of being over a minute ahead of second place. Not only was she the winner of the first women’s paratriatholon in the history of the Paralympic games, but she also came home with another medal in the T44 400-meter.
The United States had a full sweep in all three medals three times during these games — in swimming as well as track and field. As a team, the US shattered eight world records, and these games were the first time that military veteran athletes were also making their mark. With a total of 40 gold medals, 44 silver medals, and 31 bronze, for a total of 115 medals. Without a doubt, our country is very proud of all of the Olympians, both in the fifteenth Paralympics and of the XXXI Olympiad, and vicariously live through them as they shine on the largest stage of the world.
