The 2016 Paralympics in Rio just ended and it not short on inspiring stories. Athletes defying unimaginable odds and fighting life beyond our comprehension. All of us face issues in life, but how we deal with them is what counts. Beating what seems unbeatable, running past what seems unconquerable. When will you get down to beating it? When will you lace up and run past it? Or do you already have your excuses ready?
If you aren’t motivated enough, here are 35 photos from the 2016 Paralympics that are proof that if you really want to do something, nothing can stop you:
1. Korea’s Seong Jo Gi during his 100m heat.
2. Egypt’s Ibrahim Hamadtou serves during a table tennis group match. He’s the first paralympian without hands to participate in the competition.
3. Gold medalist Brent Lakatos from Canada during round one of the 100m T53.
4. German long jumper Vanessa Low with a powerful landing during her T42 final.
5. Juan José Méndez Fernández from Spain puts in all that he’s got during the C1-2-3 1000m time-trial final.
6. Brazilian Petrucio Ferreira dos Santos breaks the world record (10.57 secs) in the men’s 100m T47 final.
7. American Rudy Garcia-Tolson takes a plunge in the men’s 100m butterfly S8 heats.
8. The Rwanda sitting volleyball team during their match against China.
9. 14-year-old Ntando Mahlangu from South Africa is all set for the 200m T42 final. He won the silver medal.
10. Jordanne Whiley of Great Britain plays a backhand return during her wheelchair tennis quarter-final.
11. China’s Shuo Yan during a class 7 table tennis match. He won bronze.
12. Prawat Wahoram from Thailand in the 5000m T54 final.
13. Mariyappan Thangavelu clears the bar to win the high jump gold for India.
14. Talisson Glock of Brazil competing in the 200m individual medley SM6 heats.
15. Trevon Jenifer (USA) tries hard to block Abdi Jama (GB) during a preliminary wheelchair basketball game.
16. Venezuelan Rafael Uribe competing in the T44 high jump final.
17. Individual sabre bronze medal match between Vasileios Ntounis (Greece) and Tian Jianquan (China).
18. Stephen Miller from Great Britain throws during the club throw F32 final.
19. Dutch tennis player Anniek Van Koot during the women’s singles semi-final.