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Brad Snyder & John Register show you how the paralympians won't let anything stand in their way
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-- we still now by inspiring paralympic athletes going for the gold.
It's an incredible story and we're gonna talk about it here.
Brad Snyder US navy swimmer competing in the paralympics joins me now and John register the associate director of community and military programs.
Join me as well -- -- you so much for joining me gentlemen.
Let me ask you first John -- what what inspired all of this.
But to come into play when we think of the Olympics we think of the world's top most athletic most competitive best.
It.
Gymnasts swimmers you name it in the world and in this is an interesting take on that by allowing this opportunity to a lot of those who -- injured.
Who are also incredibly athletic as well.
Yes that's and -- a great point and then then you would think about it as the parallel games.
To the Olympic Games the United States Olympic Committee is one of organizations in the world that actually -- -- Olympic Games in the paralympic games.
It's anonymously.
-- these games came about the paralympic games -- from World War II injured veterans back in nineteen 48 that's the first.
The first -- of sporting competition but the -- to the games in 1960 now we have a world stage.
4200 athletes worldwide coming back -- to London to suddenly saw the Olympic Games -- out now we see the paralympic games.
Coming back into the the opening ceremony in the -- we'll see them competing all these phenomenal at its list is Brad Snyder right here.
They'll be phenomenal games for these these individuals.
OK so then -- on the other Brad I wanna ask you actually what dreams are you hoping to fulfill.
-- a little bit about your story how personal story and and what you're competing and.
Sure thing.
Saw I was in here of how little less than a year ago while -- serving in Afghanistan I stepped on an idea and and the resulting blast lost my vision.
So it what you know is a tough time for myself my family in the hospital last fall and I think that's -- you know with their support I was able to kind of dream -- different ways that I can experience success on the level that I had you know prior to my injury.
And assuming became one of those avenues sand thankfully it kind of broadened into an opportunity to be on the paralympic team.
In and where Wear -- uniform that says team USA and now be able to represent my country a different avenue and it's been an amazing experience.
And -- you know you you have so many goals just like so many of the other athletes and it's really incredible these sports include archery cycling shooting sitting volleyball.
Swimming track and field and wheelchair basketball.
What message do you wanna send to your country figure -- -- It's really amazing an extremely noble of -- to have that the bravery really to get out there and do that a lot of a lot of injured.
The veterans I think -- suffer so badly psychologically.
-- to get out there and do what you're doing it's just it's really incredible.
Yeah that's exactly the message I would like to send is that there.
There shouldn't be anything in the way of barriers that are presented to you ever everyone has challenges everyone has things that they have to get past.
You know might just happen to be blindness for a little while and and I think that everyone with the right mentality in the right amount of support.
You get out there and and prove to themselves and their Stanley that there shouldn't be anything in the way of barriers so in less than a year I've been able to turn.
You know what was you know -- pretty steep challenge into an amazing opportunity and I think that everyone can do that same exact thing and that's the message I'd like to send.
And John I guess where can we get more information and follow these games we all know where we got to -- -- the Olympics.
On on a different network.
But this is actually going to be taking place when and where can we see it.
Go live games -- begin on August 20 ninth it will run through September the ninth you can find out more information -- US paralympics with -- -- Dot org.
US paralympics dot -- in the in the follow our team USA athletes you're on athletes like -- -- Brad Snyder it's going to be a phenomenal experience once again in London.
You know it's incredible -- the emotions the achievements that you must witness.
You know sitting next to Brad and a lot of other athletes out there that -- watched.
Get ready for this huge momentous occasion I mean what have you witnessed the achievements and in the emotional stories -- behind the scenes that most of us.
Won't get to see.
And in how these athletes prepared for the paralympic games.
Fully begin its its just one of the parallel they -- had the opportunity beyond both sides of the coin all the four time all American athlete.
At the -- of Arkansas on track and field.
After the gulf war and operation that is -- -- the storm united states army.
I was traded for my own Olympic Games.
Go across the -- dislocated my leave me severed artery and I wasn't -- BT I healed through sport got back up again I have my dreams lifted.
Competed in 96 in the Atlanta games and then in 2000 winning the silver medal in the long jump so what I see is a parallel track.
That these athletes -- justice is dedicated.
The emotional state is just as nerve wracking -- it was trying to make.
An Olympic team it's it's not about -- -- about the games some WS athletes it's just bomb making the team.
And so they have a lot the most they're going through right now trying to re prepare themselves as -- -- one goal and now trying to accomplish a much greater goal.
What -- know that you that paralympic games.
And so what I guess can you say it's all of those out there that perhaps you know have dreams much like.
Like these athletes and haven't done anything about it how can they get involves there are so many talented veterans -- Who have suffered so greatly physically but have so much to give physically.
What of advice you have about.
That's great you know.
Both those individuals awards are training or war healing right now what medical training facilities all across United States like Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.
Or Walter Reed.
Because out and out in the and then the Washington DC area or -- in the baby sitter and in San Diego.
You -- continue to get them volatile sport programs that are right there in your doubles local areas.
Those that are -- outside of that space they need to lead again with the may -- a paralympic sport -- that's that's connected.
To that military installation so they can can can can move forward inside of their own lives and I think what happens is likable Brad Snyder.
He gets to go back.
And become one of the mentors to those individuals to make sure that they are taking advantage of all the resources it might not be -- to become a paralympic athletes such as he is right now it may be just to jump back into life.
It might be just I want to get back of my wife for my my son my daughter my husband.
It -- any one of those things is -- going to be critical for them to get back to -- and active lifestyle sports is just an avenue to do so.
All right Brad are you nervous.
No ma'am I mean I spent.
About six months in Afghanistan gad do an assault operation so this is Santiago the step down from that but I I.
I know I learned stress mansion while I was out there -- some not to stress about this but I am really looking forward to it -- -- going to be there and so.
-- -- I -- of nervous I'd say I'm excited I'm really thrilled about the prospect of being part of -- USA and and be in there with my family.
That's really awesome and your family must be so so incredibly proud of you both for.
Your service and for this incredible physical -- that you're about to undergo.
Good luck to you.
And to all the other athletes -- competing and Brad Snyder -- the US navy swimmer competing in the Caroline it's Brad thank you very much and John register.
The associate director of community and military programs of the USOC thank you gentlemen for talking to us about this very inspiring story and good luck to you -- Thank and you think you have heard that.
IRA and we are gonna take it.
