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xchrom

(108,903 posts)
Wed Sep 5, 2012, 09:23 AM Sep 2012

PARALYMPICS AN INSPIRATION TO WAR-WOUNDED ATHLETES

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OLY_PARALYMPICS_BATTLEFIELD_ATHLETES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-09-05-07-23-15

LONDON (AP) -- The explosion that took away Brad Snyder's sight couldn't touch the Navy lieutenant's fighting spirit.

A year after Snyder stepped on an improvised explosive device laid by Taliban that he was trying to detect while on duty in Kandahar, the American is swimming at the London Paralympics - and adding sporting medals to his military ones.

"It was pretty much immediate that I (decided I) was going to try and minimize my blindness as much as possible, and get out and pursue success," Snyder told The Associated Press. "Thankfully my support network was pretty savvy and said, `You should check out this Paralympic swimming thing.'"

Snyder is glad he listened, having quickly excelled with the same determination he applied to clearing IEDs in one of the most dangerous Afghanistan assignments.


Britain's Derek Derenalagi makes a throw in the men's discus throw F57/58 category during the athletics competition at the 2012 Paralympics, Friday, Aug. 31, 2012, in London. Derenalagi, who is originally from Fiji, required amputation on his legs after his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device in 2007 whilst serving for the British military in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
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