Not just for the gold: Paralympic swimmer wants to help others aim high

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Not just for the gold: Paralympic swimmer wants to help others aim high By Washington Post, adapted by Newsela staff on 09.12.

1 Not just for the gold: Paralympic swimmer wants to help others aim high By Washington Post, adapted by Newsela staff on Word Count 794 Gizzy, a German shepherd, serves as a guide dog and companion for Brad Snyder. Photo: Washington Post photo by Jonathan Newton BALTIMORE, Md. Brad Snyder still sees the pool spread out around him. He sees the wake in the water forming behind him as he speeds through his lane and the black lines on the bottom and the bright colors of the lane lines. When he really gets going, he can make himself forget he is blind. Those are the moments he lives for, the moments that carry him back to his old life. Wounded By A Bomb In Afghanistan Snyder, a former Navy man, lost his sight after being wounded by a bomb in Afghanistan in He is getting better every day at accepting his situation, and now realizes he has a chance to help others with challenges like his. These days Snyder is focused on the Paralympic Summer Games, a huge international sporting event that takes place every four years and that is the Olympics for athletes with disabilities. In 2012, just shortly after losing his sight, he traveled to London for the games. He came back with two gold medals and one silver.

2 This month, Snyder will set off again, this time to Rio de Janeiro, for the 2016 Paralympic Games, where he will swim in six events. He is trying to defend his two 2012 titles in the 100- and 400-meter freestyle swimming races in the S11 category, for athletes who are completely blind. In addition, he hopes to win a few more titles in a variety of events. "The Best Freestyler In The World" "I feel like I'm the best freestyler in the world," said Snyder. In fact, among blind swimmers, he is ranked first in the world at both 100 and 400 meters. "I want to back that up. I want to protect those events I feel like those are mine to lose." Snyder was once the captain of the Naval Academy men's swim team. Within two months of being wounded he was back in a swimming pool. He found that his return to the water helped him feel like his old self again. Recruited To Try Out For The Paralympics Within four months, he was being recruited to try out for the Paralympics. Within five months he was swimming in his first official meet, posting a time in the 100 freestyle that immediately ranked as fifth best in the world. On September 7, 2012, he won the second of his two gold medals in London. The explosion that deprived Snyder of his sight had occurred exactly one year earlier, on September 7, While rushing to the aid of two men who had stepped on a buried bomb, Snyder stepped on a second bomb, which exploded just in front of him. The main force of the blast was absorbed by his face. Snyder underwent more than 100 hours of operations, but none of it could save his eyesight. He was told he would never see again, and his damaged eyes were replaced with glass ones. He was 27 years old. Naturally, Snyder's family and friends were very upset. "In the beginning, everybody was like, 'Oh, my gosh, we're so sorry,' " Snyder said. "People were crying, people were upset." A Way To Turn Things Around Swimming became a way to turn things around, and to bring the old Snyder back. "I didn't like that so many people were upset. Swimming in the beginning was a way to turn that on its head like, 'Look, I'm OK. I'm happy. I'm swimming again.' " In some ways, having to train for the London Paralympics made things easy, Snyder said. It was after he got back from London that things became difficult for him.

3 "What Is My Purpose?" "I had never actually sat down," he said, "and thought about: Who am I now? What is my purpose?" Snyder quickly realized he had a small measure of fame as a Paralympic champion. He decided he would give the Paralympics one more go for 2016 in Rio and use his own story to inspire others. Today Snyder has a small army of friends and coaches who would do anything to help a man who has inspired them all so much. "You Can't Help But Be Inspired By Him" "He's unbelievable his attitude, his work ethic. He's just a machine," said Brian Loeffler, the Loyola University head swimming coach, who also trains Snyder at the school's recreation center. "You can't help but be inspired by him." Snyder has not ruled out a run at a third Paralympic Games, in Tokyo in 2020, when he will be 36. He is not just thinking about keeping himself busy. Snyder hopes to be able to keep on inspiring others to meet their own challenges with courage.

4 Quiz 1 Choose the paragraph from the section "Recruited To Try Out For The Paralympics" that suggests Snyder quickly overcame his physical challenges. 2 Which sentence from the section "A Way To Turn Things Around" SUPPORTS the idea that training gave Snyder a sense of purpose? Swimming became a way to turn things around, and to bring the old Snyder back. Swimming in the beginning was a way to turn that on its head like, 'Look, I'm OK.' In some ways, having to train for the London Paralympics made things easy, Snyder said. 3 Why did the end of the London Paralympics present a serious challenge for Snyder? He no longer had a source of income after the events ended. He had to spend time and energy recovering from participation in such a tiring competition. He missed swimming and competing against other like-minded individuals. He had time to think about how his blindness would affect his daily life. 4 If the Paralympics wanted to encourage more participants to sign up, would this article help? Why or why not? Yes, because it provides examples of the fame that can be achieved by participating in the Paralympics. No, because it shows how difficult it is to train for such an event and how much effort it takes. Yes, because it highlights an athlete who persevered despite his disability. No, because it describes someone who had previous experience as an athlete so only those with similar backgrounds would sign up.

5 Answer Key 1 Choose the paragraph from the section "Recruited To Try Out For The Paralympics" that suggests Snyder quickly overcame his physical challenges. Paragraph 6: Within four months, he was being recruited to try out for the Paralympics. Within five months he was swimming in his first official meet, posting a time in the 100 freestyle that immediately ranked as fifth best in the world. 2 Which sentence from the section "A Way To Turn Things Around" SUPPORTS the idea that training gave Snyder a sense of purpose? Swimming became a way to turn things around, and to bring the old Snyder back. Swimming in the beginning was a way to turn that on its head like, 'Look, I'm OK.' In some ways, having to train for the London Paralympics made things easy, Snyder said. 3 Why did the end of the London Paralympics present a serious challenge for Snyder? He no longer had a source of income after the events ended. He had to spend time and energy recovering from participation in such a tiring competition. He missed swimming and competing against other like-minded individuals. He had time to think about how his blindness would affect his daily life. 4 If the Paralympics wanted to encourage more participants to sign up, would this article help? Why or why not? Yes, because it provides examples of the fame that can be achieved by participating in the Paralympics. No, because it shows how difficult it is to train for such an event and how much effort it takes. Yes, because it highlights an athlete who persevered despite his disability. No, because it describes someone who had previous experience as an athlete so only those with similar backgrounds would sign up.

Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas has a second golden opportunity

Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas has a second golden opportunity By Washington Post, adapted by Newsela staff on 07.06.16 Word Count 716 Gabby Douglas is aiming to be the rare woman gymnast to compete in