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51 Truly Mind-Boggling Pictures Of Paralympians That Have To Be Seen To Be Believed

1.First and foremost, Matt Stutzman of Team USA competing in Men's Archery:

Matt Stutzman, an archer without arms, uses his feet to aim a compound bow during a competition
Carmen Mandato / Getty Images

2.Yes, that's his foot on the bow:

An archer pulls back his bowstring using his mouth and left foot. He competes in adaptive archery, underscoring his determination and skill
Dennis Grombkowski / Getty Images

3.And yes, that's a bee near his foot:

An archer uses his foot to aim a bow, focusing intently on the target at a competitive event
Alex Davidson / Getty Images

4.Sheetal Devi of India has a similar and equally impressive strategy:

Paralympic archer Zahra Nemati draws her bowstring with her mouth and aims using her feet during a competition
Ramsey Cardy / Sportsfile via Getty Images

5.Remember the Turkish shooter guy? Well, here's Jo Jeong-du of Korea competing in the Men's 10m Air Pistol with similar vibes:

A person in a wheelchair wearing a white sports shirt and black mask aims a pistol during a shooting event, covered with a green and red blanket
Andy Lyons / Getty Images

6.This is Brazil's Alessandro Rodrigo competing in Men's Shot Put:

Paralympic athlete Thiago Paulino, wearing a blindfold, prepares to throw a shot put at a sports event
Michael Steele / Getty Images

7.Speaking of Shot Put, here's Sawsen Ben Mbarek of Team Tunisia launching the ball:

Para-athlete throwing a shot put during a competition, wearing a headscarf, black top, red athletic jersey, and a weightlifting belt
Naomi Baker / Getty Images

8.And here's Niko Kappel of Team Germany sending that thing into oblivion:

Person participating in a shot put event, wearing a red tank top, black shorts, and neon green shoes, captured mid-throw with the shot in the air
Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

9.This is New Zealand's Wojtek Czyz diving for the birdie in Men's Badminton:

David Phillips, a para-badminton player with a prosthetic leg, lunges to hit a shuttlecock during a match. An opponent and a referee are visible in the background
Picture Alliance / dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images

10.This is Brazil's Raíssa Rocha Machado competing in the Women's Javelin Throw:

Rocia Machado competes in a javelin throw event. She is captured mid-throw on a chair, wearing athletic attire with her name displayed on her chest
Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

11.And here's Greece's Grigorios Polychronidis pushing the ball on a ramp with his head in Men's Boccia:

A person in a wheelchair competes in a Boccia game, focused on aiming the ball with the help of an assistive device
Picture Alliance / dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images

12.This is Sevilay Ozturk of Team Turkey taking a break poolside while training:

Woman in a swimming cap using her foot to touch her nose while leaning on the edge of a pool
Steph Chambers / Getty Images

13.That flexibility!

Two Paralympic swimmers, one on the ground stretching and the other in a wheelchair preparing by the pool at the Paris 2024 Paralympics
Steph Chambers / Getty Images

14.Here's China's Zhenzhen Zhu returning the ball in Women's Wheelchair Tennis:

A wheelchair tennis player in action on a clay court, reaching out to hit a tennis ball with their racket, displaying athleticism and focus
Alain Jocard / AFP via Getty Images

15.Here's Team Spain and Team China fighting for the ball in Wheelchair Basketball:

Paralympic wheelchair basketball game with a player in a red and yellow jersey holding the ball while another player is on the ground. The Paris 2024 logo is visible
Alex Slitz / Getty Images

16.This is Daniel Wagner of Team Denmark leaping in the air while competing in the Men's Long Jump:

Para-athlete Markus Rehm competes in a long jump event at a stadium, captured mid-air with a dynamic pose and a prosthetic leg visible
Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

17.Here's USA's Beatriz Hatz captured mid-flight during the Women's Long Jump:

Athlete Scout Bassett, wearing a blue and red athletic outfit, competes in a long jump event using a prosthetic leg
Michael Steele / Getty Images

18.Just amazing.

Track and field athlete jumping with prosthetic leg during a long jump event
Nurphoto / NurPhoto via Getty Images

19.This is Team Morroco playing Team Japan in Blind Soccer:

Blind football match at the Paralympics featuring players from Japan (No. 3, 6, 8) and Morocco (No. 4)
David Ramos / Getty Images

20.Yes, Blind Soccer is a Paralympic sport!

Blind footballers competing in the 2024 Paralympic Games, one in white/red/blue, the other in green, both wearing blindfolds. Referees in the background
Franco Arland / Getty Images for IPC

21.Just incredible.

Visually impaired athletes engage in a soccer match, both wearing eye shades. One player in a green uniform appears to be taking a shot, while another in blue defends
Elsa / Getty Images

22.Brazil's Sabrina Custodia da Silva celebrates a successful cycling run:

Paralympic cyclist Sarah Storey, in a racing outfit with a helmet, celebrates during a track event
Dimitar Dilkoff / AFP via Getty Images

23.Athletes compete in the Men's 200m Freestyle swim:

Swimmers in competition at the Paris 2024 aquatic event, mid-race, captured underwater. The image highlights their streamlined technique
Adam Pretty / Getty Images

24.Brazil's Gabriel Geraldo dos Santos Araujo celebrates winning that one:

Swimmer with limb differences stands by the pool in competition attire at a Para swimming event, with other participants and photographers in the background
Franck Fife / AFP via Getty Images

25.And here's another pic of him celebrating human fountain-style:

Paralympian Daniel Dias, shirtless, exhales water upward after swimming at the Paris 2024 event. A coach stands nearby holding a cap and mask
Franck Fife / AFP via Getty Images

26.Team Venezuela's Rosibel Colmenares digs in while competing in the the Women's Long Jump:

Paralympian Monica Olivia Rodriguez Colmenares lands in the sand during a long jump event at a track and field competition, wearing a blindfold and sports attire
Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

27.Team France returns the ball in Men's Sitting Volleyball:

Two male sitting volleyball players in action on the court, attempting to reach the ball mid-air. The foreground player is in a blue uniform, and the background player is in a white uniform
Naomi Baker / Getty Images

28.USA's Roderick Townsend celebrates a successful high jump:

David Townsend, wearing a USA track uniform, celebrates energetically during a track event. The name "Townsend" is visible on his uniform
Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

29.And here's Camila Muller of Team Brazil crossing the finish line during the Women's 400m dash:

Brazilian paralympian Thalita Simplicio running with her guide at the World Para Athletics Championships, with Muller bib and superhero face paint
David Ramos / Getty Images

30.That mask!

Brazilian paralympian Thalita Simplicio running with her guide at the World Para Athletics Championships, with Muller bib and superhero face paint
David Ramos / Getty Images

31.Speaking of awesome masks, Women's Discus thrower Assunta Legnante has another great one:

A person smiles while wearing a mask resembling wide cartoon eyes over their own eyes
Naomi Baker / Getty Images

32.This is Team USA's Daniel Romanchuk competing in the Men's 1500m:

Paralympic athletes compete in a wheelchair race, displaying strength and determination
Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

33.USA's Taylor Swanson falls at the finish line during the Women's 200m final:

Track event: A runner falls while another runner, Jiang Fenfen, sprints past her. The fallen runner’s athletic prosthetic leg is visible in the image
Marcus Hartmann / Getty Images

34.Nathan Torquato of Team Brazil smashes his competitor in Para Taekwondo:

Para Taekwondo match at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Two athletes in protective gear, one delivering a kick to the other
Elsa / Getty Images

35.Zakia Khudadadi of the Refugee Paralympic Team celebrates her bronze medal in Women's Taekwondo:

A joyful athlete lifts another in celebration after a match at the Paris 2024 event. Both are in white athletic gear. The background shows an audience and the Paris 2024 sign
Steph Chambers / Getty Images

36.And here's Team GB celebrating winning gold in Para Taekwondo:

Taekwondo athlete performs a one-handed handstand during a competition
Aitor Alcalde / Getty Images for IPC

37.USA's Chuck Aoki catches himself in Wheelchair Rugby:

Paralympian Chuck Aoki in a wheelchair on the court during a rugby match, wearing a jersey with No. 3, alongside another athlete in the background
Ian Rice / AFP via Getty Images

38.How does he stay up? No idea!

A wheelchair rugby player catches the ball mid-air during a game, showcasing intense action and athleticism. Fans and photographers are seen in the background
Tullio M. Puglia / Getty Images for IPC

39.The balance skills in Wheelchair Rugby are unmatched.

Canada's #21 and Germany's #5 compete in a wheelchair rugby match. The Canadian player, holding the ball, moves aggressively towards the camera
Steph Chambers / Getty Images

40.USA's Christian King and Tyler Merren make a save in a Goalball match vs. Iran:

U.S. Paralympians Calahan Young (#8) and Matt Simpson (#2) in action during a goalball match, wearing red jerseys and eye masks
Alex Davidson / Getty Images

41.And here's Thomas Rau of Team Germany competing in Men's Para Table Tennis:

Para table tennis player Thomas Rau in action during a match, wearing a sports jersey
Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images

42.Impressive!

Paralympian Thomas Schmidberger competes in a table tennis match at Paris 2024, wearing a sports uniform, as a referee looks on
Picture Alliance / dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images

43.This is France's Jules Ribstein crossing the finish line in the Men's Triathlon:

Triathlete Alexis Hanquinquant, dressed in athletic gear, crosses the finish line on a prosthetic leg, cheering with a French flag at a sports event
Alain Jocard / AFP via Getty Images

44.Abdullah Ilgaz of Team Turkey competes in the High Jump:

Husnu Can Ozbek competes in a high jump event, wearing athletic gear and yellow shoes, clearing the bar with a Fosbury Flop technique at a competition
Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

45.Cameron Leslie of Team New Zealand dives in the pool during Para Swimming:

A male swimmer dressed in swimwear and goggles dives into the pool as another swimmer creates a splash, seen mid-race at a competitive swimming event
Fiona Goodall / Getty Images for PNZ

46.And here's Japan's Kaede Hinata warming up before competing in backstroke:

Male swimmer in swim cap and goggles prepares for a race, gripping lane marker with teeth, legs bent at poolside
Ramsey Cardy / Sportsfile via Getty Images

47.That jaw power!

Japanese swimmer in competition pool, biting a towel to remove his swim cap while taking a break at a swimming event
Ramsey Cardy / Sportsfile via Getty Images

48.This is Kinga Dróżdż of Team Poland celebrating during her fencing match against China:

A fencer in full protective gear raises a triumphant fist, displaying a visible disability. The celebratory pose signifies an achievement or victory
Steph Chambers / Getty Images

49.Here's Brazil's Petrucio Ferreira dos Santos waiting at the starting block in the Men's 100m final:

Track and field athletes, including Cuba's Roger Iribarne on the left, at the starting blocks during a race. One holds a brightly colored relay baton
David Ramos / Getty Images

50.Here's India's Saptoyogo Purnomo celebrating winning the silver medal in that race:

Olympic athlete at Tokyo 2020 celebrating on the track after winning a race, wearing a white and red uniform with "PUKHTO" visible on the front
Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

51.And lastly, this is Costa Rica's Sherman Isidro Guity crossing the finish line to win that sweet, sweet gold:

Several runners, including Johannes Floors, compete in a track event at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. A 'Women's Discus Throw F53 Final' sign is visible in the background
Tullio M. Puglia / Getty Images for IPC