Editor's note: U.S. swimmer Mallory Weggemann was paralyzed from the waist down in 2008 after a routine epidural injection went wrong. She returned to the pool and became a world champion. Now 23, she had been targeting nine gold medals at London 2012 but her events were reduced after her classification was altered by the International Paralympic Committee. She still went on to win a gold and bronze medal at the Games and she writes for CNN on recovering from a life-changing injury.
(CNN) -- Just like that and everything you know can change. People say life can change in the blink of an eye and throughout my 23 years I have seen that happen many times.
One minute you are getting on with life and then suddenly your world changes.
I recently visited a young lady in a rehabilitation hospital. She was paralyzed on July 4 and is still an inpatient as she continues with her rehabilitation and learns how to live in a new body.
Mallory Weggemann
Due to the Paralympics' classification rules, South Africa's double amputee "Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius can line up against runners with only one prosthetic leg.
Classifiying Paralympic ability
She is 28 and in a single moment her life changed forever. She is a beautiful, strong woman who is learning to live all over again.
Read: Did the U.S. tune out of the Paralympics?
Visiting her reminded me that it was the first time I had been back to an inpatient rehab hospital since I was discharged in March 2008. As I sat talking with her and her family the memories flooded back.
Seeing her parents and sister reminded me of my own family dealing with the change I underwent in my life. Seeing her reminded me a lot of myself.
Scared but hopeful, determined but discouraged, unsure of what life would be like moving forward. We have to somehow find a way of picking ourselves up and continuing with life the best we can.
We spent some time talking about anger and letting go. Our situations are very different, but we both have to deal with letting go.
Read: Disaster to triumph - a week in the life of Mallory Weggemann
Tito Sena of Brazil celebrates winning the men's T46 marathon on Sunday, September 9, the final day of the London 2012 Paralympics.
Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Alex Zanardi proudly displays the gold medal he won at the 2012 London Paralympics in the Individual H4 Time Trial.
Alex Zanardi: F1 to Paralympics
We have to face what happened and set the anger aside and make a new life for ourselves. She had wanted to spend that day on July 4 with her friends.
She went out on a boat and had a few drinks, like nearly everyone else in the state of Minnesota that day. When she dived into the lake to cool off she hit her head on a rock. She has now spent months in the hospital fighting to get movement back.
I have anger towards myself and the medical system and she has the same. We were injured very differently but both of our stories come down to choices; choices that both of us made which we will have to live with for the rest of our lives.
They are choices we are both reminded of every day when we wake up and see our wheelchairs by our bedside. It is something which will always be a part of us but it is also something which makes us who we are.
It will drive us to help make a difference in this world but it will also always remind us of our sudden moment of impact.
Fireworks light up the stadium during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at Olympic Stadium on Sunday, September 9. Check out the best photos of the Paralympic Games here.
2012 Paralympics Closing Ceremony
The crowd cheers during the London 2012 Victory Parade for Team GB and Paralympic GB athletes on September 10, 2012 in London, England.
London 2012: The victory parade
These past few years I have been afraid to go back to a rehab hospital because I was unsure I would be able to handle it emotionally, but as I sat with her there I experienced some healing.
I was able to talk to someone who understood. I was able to share my story with her and her family and give them hope for what she can have moving forward.
As I sat there wearing my brown leather boots with a heal I heard her ask in a very excited hopeful voice, "You can wear boots?"
Now as someone who has been where she has, realizing something so small as being able to wear boots again someday is exciting. It resembles being able to get back to who you were before and not being trapped wearing sweats and slippers because you can't get anything else on.
The small things are what build up and make the big things. Realizing slowly but surely you can get parts of your life back, even if it is as simple as gaining hope that someday you will be able to wear your favorite boots again.
When I left her in the hospital I thought of where I was nearly five years ago. I couldn't sit up on my own, I couldn't feed myself or dress myself. I was 100% dependent on people around me and now I am back to being stubbornly independent.
I thought of the journey my loved ones and myself have been on. How we as a family overcame this and where we are today as we approach my five-year anniversary.
As I left I realized once again everything happens for a reason. It reminded me where I came from and where I am now.
It connected me with someone in a way I have never had before and most of all I was able to give them hope to believe again in what the future could hold.
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Despite being switched into a more difficult category at the London 2012 Games, Weggemann sealed a shock gold medal in the S8 50m freestyle event.
The Minnesota native says winning a gold medal felt like the end of what had been a long journey.
Chinese swimmer Zheng Tao has no arms, but that didn't stop him winning gold against competitors more physically abled.
Britain's gold medalist Jonathan Fox looked "more able" outside the pool than his swimming rivals, according to former Canadian Paralympic middle-distance runner David Howe, who is now an academic.
Athletes are placed in one of six main disability groups: those with spinal injuries, cerebral palsy, amputees, the blind or visually impaired, intellectual disabilities and those whose disabilities fall outside of those categories, like those born with dwarfism or multiple sclerosis.
Each of the Paralympics' 20 sports are divided between the different classifications and given a number that denotes the severity of the disability -- 1 being the most severe, 10 the least.
The IPC has complicated things further by trying to slim down the number of medals and disciplines and look beyond the disability as the defining factor in classification. Instead, it says, look to the potential of the athlete.
Athletes compete in the men's T54 marathon near Westminster and the Houses of Parliament on Sunday.
Spain's Alberto Suarez Laso reacts after finishing in first place in the men's marathon T12 in central London on Sunday.
Mateus Francisco Tostes Calvo of Brazil, in white, sits on the field after losing to Iran 5-0 in the men's team football 7-a-side bronze medal match Sunday.
The lead group of runners races to the finish in the men's T12 marathon Sunday.
Canadian teammates celebrate after defeating Australia to win the gold medal wheelchair basketball competition Sunday.
Gold medalist Oscar Pistorius of South Africa throws a bouquet of flowers on the podium during the medal ceremony for the men's 400-meter T44 final Saturday, September 8, at the 2012 Paralympic Games.
The United States' Joseph Chambers reaches for the ball during Saturday's bronze medal wheelchair basketball game between United States and Great Britain.
China's Yang Ge serves against Poland's Sebastian Powrozniak during the men's team table tennis Class 9-10 final on Saturday.
Cuba's Yunidis Castillo wins gold in the women's 400-meter T46 on Saturday.
Australian Madison De Rozario looks on prior to the women's 400-meter T53 final on Saturday.
Aniek Van Koot, left, and Jiske Griffioen of the Netherlands in action against Marjolein Buis and Esther Vergeer, also of the of Netherlands, in the women's doubles gold medal match.
Richard Browne of the United States competes in the men's high jump F46 final on Saturday.
South Africa's Oscar Pistorius, also known as the "Blade Runner," crosses the line to win gold in the men's 400-meter T44 final. Pistorius also competed in the London Olympics.
No. 13 Derrick Helton of the United States attempts to get the ball from No. 13 Jared Funk of Canada during Saturday's mixed wheelchair rugby semifinal match between the U.S. and Canada.
Thailand's Pattaya Tadtong, right, celebrates beating Britain's David Smith, left, in the final of the boccia individual BC1 competition on Saturday.
The sun sets as Shingo Kunieda of Japan, front left, plays against Stephane Houdet of France in the men's wheelchair tennis gold medal match on Saturday.
Korean Ho Won Jeong competes in the individual BC3 boccia gold medal match on Saturday.
Ivano and Lucca Pizzi of Italy celebrate winning the men's individual B cycling road race on Saturday.
China's Yuansen Zheng tosses the ball during Saturday's Individual BC4 boccia gold medal match against Brazilian Dirceu Jose Pinto.
Sophie Pascoe of New Zealand prepares to compete Saturday in the women's 100-meter breaststroke SB9 final.
From left to right: Canada's Brent Lakatos passes over to teammate Alexandre Dupont and Mexico's Juan Pablo Cervantes Garcia to Jaime Ramirez Valencia in the men's 4x400-meter relay on Saturday.
Mexican Luis Alberto Zepeda Felix competes in the men's javelin throw F54/55/56 final on Saturday.
South Korea's Choi Ye-Jin watches her shot in the gold medal final of the boccia mixed individual BC3 competition against South Korea's Jeong Ho-won on Saturday.
Simon Wilson, left, of Great Britain competes against Tang Tat Wong of Hong Kong during the men's open wheelchair fencing quarter-final match on Saturday.
Jack Bridge of Great Britain celebrates after his men's 100-meter breaststroke on Saturday.
Tim Prendergast of New Zealand competes in the men's 800-meter T13 final on Saturday.
A volunteer holds a ball during the soccer match between Great Britain and Turkey on Saturday.
Abdellatif Baka of Algeria reacts after winning the gold during the men's 800-meter T13 final on Saturday.
Audrey Le Morvan of France prepares to serve against Poland in the women's team table tennis bronze medal match on Saturday.
Toshihiro Takada of Japan competes in the men's 200-meter T52 heats on Saturday.
Neda Bahi of Tunisia crosses the line to win gold ahead of silver medalist Viktoriya Kravchenko of Ukraine, No. 1389, and bronze medalist Evgeniya Trushnikova of Russia, No. 1337, in the women's 400-meter T37 final on Saturday.
Faridul Bin Masri of Malaysia competes in the men's javelin throw final on Saturday.
Robbi Weldon and Lynne Bessette of Canada ride in the women's cycling road race on Saturday.
Doniyor Saliev of Uzbekistan competes in the men's triple jump F12 final on Saturday.
A picture shows the shadow of competitors as they compete in the men's javelin throw F42 final on Friday, September 7.
Netherlands' Esther Vergeer keeps a spare ball in the spokes of her wheelchair as she plays Netherlands' Aniek Van Koot in the women's singles wheelchair tennis final on Friday.
Thomas Schmidberger of Germany competes in the final of the Men's Team Table Tennis - Class 3 against China on Friday.
A detailed view of wheelchairs during the men's pool phase Group A rugby match between Great Britain and Japan on Friday.
A shadow of Lucy Shuker serving with partner (out of frame) Jordanne Whiley of Great Britain to Sakhorn Khanthasit and Ratana Techamaneewat of Thailand in the women's doubles bronze medal match for wheelchair tennis on Friday.
Great Britain fans cheer on their athletes on Friday.
Daniela Schulte of germany, Naomi Ikinaga of Japan and Nadia Baez of Argentina compete in the women's 400m freestyle - S11 Heat 2 on Friday.
Puerto Rico's Jose Benitez Sanchez competes in the men's shot put F20 final on Friday.
Kieran Tscherniawsky of Great Britain competes in the men's discus throw F32/33/34 final on Friday.
South Africa's Johanna Pretorius competes in the women's long jump F13 final on Friday.
Valerie Grand-Maison of Canada celebrates after winning gold in the women's 200m individual medley - SM13 final on Friday.
Cristian Valenzuela of Chile and guide Cristopher Guajardo react as they win gold in the men's 5000m T11 final on Friday.
Sarah Rung, right, of Norway touches the wall ahead of Teresa Perales, left, of Spain to win gold in the women's 50m butterfly - S5 final on Friday.
Silver medallist Dmitrii Kokarev of Russia, gold medallist Yang Yang of China and bronze medallist Arisdteidis Makrodimitris of Greece pose on the podium during the medal ceremony for the men's 50m freestyle - S2 final on Friday.
A medal bearer carries a medal and flowers on Friday.
The team of Finland celebrates after winning their men's team goalball gold medal match against Brazil on Friday.
Leomon Moreno Da Silva of Brazil and teammate Jose Roberto Ferreira De Oliveira block the ball during their men's team goalball gold-medal match against Finland on Friday.
Switzerland's Marcel Hug competes in the men's 400m - T54 final on Friday.
Rudy Garcia-Tolson, center, of the United States competes in the men's 100-meter T42 heats at the London 2012 Paralympic Gameson Friday.
Oksana Zubkovska of Ukraine competes in the women's long jump F11/12 final on Friday.
Tunisia's Mohamed Amara competes in the men's javelin throw F40 final Friday.
Great Britain's Rachel Morris and Karen Darke cross the finish line at the end of the women's individual H1-3 road race Friday.
Poland's Sebastian Powrozniak competes in the men's team table tennis Class 9-10 on Friday.
Australia's Chris Bond reaches for the ball during the mixed wheelchair rugby open match against Belgium on Friday.
Bronze medalist Farzad Sepahvand of Iran poses Friday during the medal ceremony for the men's discus throw F44 final.
Esther Vergeer of the Netherlands plays a forehand in the final of the women's singles match in wheelchair tennis Friday.
New Zealand's Tim Prendergast, No. 3, competes in the 800-meter T13 round 1 heat 1 on Friday.
Japan's Jun Hiromichi competes Friday in the men's 200-meter T53 heats.
Britain's Kyron Duke asks for quiet before competing Friday in the men's javelin throw F40 final.
China's Zhao Xu, right, dips for the finish line, just ahead of Cuba's Raciel Gonzalez Isidoria to win the men's 100-meter T46 final on Thursday, September 6.
A spectator from Thailand wears masks as he watches Thursday's action at Olympic Stadium.
Brazil's Yohansson Nascimento breaks down on the finish line after finishing last in the men's 100-meter T46 final Thursday.
Matthew Cowdrey of Australia competes in the men's 200-meter individual medley SM9 final Thursday.
Wolfgang Sacher of Germany crosses the finish line in the men's individual C 4-5 road race Thursday.
Tom Hall Butcher of Great Britain reacts during his men's individual sabre wheelchair fencing match Thursday.
China's Li Duan competes in the men's triple jump F11 final on Thursday.
Yoojeong Lee of the Republic of Korea, right, shoots during the women's R8-50m rifle 3 positions-SH1 final on Thursday.
Britain's Sarah Storey, left, bites her gold medal as her nephew Gethin Crayford holds it on the podium after she won the women's individual C4-5 road race cycling final on Thursday.
Fiona Southorn of New Zealand in action in the women's individual C 4-5 road race on Thursday.
Michelle Alonso Morales of Spain celebrates after winning gold in the women's 100m breaststroke - SB14 final on Thursday.
Argentina's captain Silvio Velo runs past Brazilian players to shoot at goal during the men's 5-a-side football semi-final match between Argentina and Brazil on Thursday.
Bronze medalist Allison Jones, left, of the USA celebrates with silver medalist Denise Schindler of Germany after the women's individual C1-3 road race on Thursday.
Jorge Benjamin Gonzalez Sauceda of Mexico celebrates winning bronze in the men's 400m - T12 final on Thursday, September 6.
Brazil's Jeferson da Conceicao Goncalves is seen during the game against Argentina during the men's 5-a-side football semi-final match between Argentina and Brazil on Thursday.
Samantha Cameron and David Cameron watch Great Britain play France during a Paralympic wheelchair rugby match on Thursday.
Hannah Cockroft of Great Britain wins gold in the women's 200m - T34 final on Thursday.
Gold medalist Hannah Cockroft of Great Britain is congratulated by Melissa Nicholls of Great Britain on Thursday.
Silver medallist Edenia Garcia of Brazil poses on the podium during the medal ceremony for the women's 50m backstroke - S4 final on Thursday.
Jonathan De Souza Santos of Brazil competes in the men's shot put - F40 on Thursday.
Matthew Cowdrey of Australia competes in the men's 200-meter individual medley - SM9 heat 2 at the Aquatics Center on Thursday.
Jiri Jezek of the Czech Republic leads the group during the men's individual C4-5 road race in Longfield, England, on Thursday.
Amy Conroy of Great Britain takes a shot during the women's classification crossover wheelchair basketball match between Great Britain and China on Thursday.
Marieke Vervoort of Belgium reacts as she wins gold in the women's 100-meter T52 final on Day 7 of the London 2012 Paralympics on Thursday.
Members of the Brazilian team huddle after the men's 4x100-meter relay T42/T46 final on Thursday.
South Africa's Oscar Pistorius lunges toward the finish line ahead of Brazil's Alan Oliveira as he anchors his team to win the men's 4x100-meter relay T42-46 final and set a new world record on Thursday.
Britain's Sam Ruddock reacts after his men's 200-meter T35 round 1 athletics heat on Thursday.
Czech Republic's Jiri Jezek reacts after winning the gold medal in the men's individual C4 time trial cycling final on Wednesday, September 5, at the London 2012 Paralympics in London.
Alessandro Zanardi of Italy celebrates winning the men's individual H4 time trial on Wednesday.
Nicholas Taylor of the United States plays a forehand in the quad doubles wheelchair tennis final on Wednesday.
Britain's David Anthony, center, reacts to scoring a goal against the United States during a Pool A wheelchair rugby match on Wednesday.
Kenny Allen of Great Britain reacts after losing the match against China in the semifinal of the men's team recurve on Wednesday.
Will Groulx, center, of the United States gets upended by Britain's Aaron Phipps, left, during the rugby match on Wednesday.
Michael Teuber of Germany celebrates winning the men's individual C 1 time trial on Wednesday.
Sam Chik Tam of Hong Kong fences during a men's epee Category B quarterfinal against Daoliang Hu of China on Wednesday.
Assunta Legnante of Italy competes in the women's shot put F11/F12 final on Wednesday.
Katrin Green, left, of Germany and Marlou van Rhijn of the Netherlands compete in the women's 200-meter T37 heats at Olympic Stadium on Wednesday.
Zahra Javanmard of Iran competes in the women's team recurve open qualifying round in archery on Wednesday.
Marcel Hug of Switzerland competes in the men's 800-meter T54 round 1 heat 2 cycling event on Wednesday.
Tanto Campbell of Jamaica competes in the men's discus throw F54/55/56 final on Wednesday.
Jenny McLoughlin of Great Britain reacts after the women's 4x100-meter relay - T35/T38 in which her team won the bronze medal Wednesday.
Brazilian Terezinha Guilhermina loses her guide Guilherme Soares de Santana after he fell in the Women's 400-meter T12 final at the 2012 London Paralympic Games on Tuesday, September 4.
British racer David Weir celebrates winning the Men's 1500-meter T54 final on Tuesday.
Chinese Daoliang Hu, left, on his way to winning gold against Ukrainian Anton Datsko on Tuesday during the men's final of wheelchair fencing.
Katharina Kruger of Germany plays a shot while competing with Sabine Ellerbrock against Jordanne Whiley and Lucy Shuker of Great Britain during the women's doubles wheelchair tennis quarterfinal match on Tuesday.
Brazil's Yohansson Nascimento celebrates finishing second in the men's 400-meter T46 final on Tuesday.
Venezuela's Williams Barreto competes in the men's long jump - F20 final on Tuesday.
Walid Ktila of Tunisia crosses the line to win gold on Tuesday in the men's 200-meter - T34 final.
Daniel Silva of Brazil and guide Heitor de Oliveira Sales win silver in the men's 200-meter - T11 final on Tuesday.
Sophie Wells, Lee Pearson, Deborah Criddle and Sophie Christiansen of Great Britain wear their team gold medals for the equestrian event on Tuesday.
China's Wang Yanzhang competes in the men's shot put F34 final on Tuesday.
Natalie Schneider of the United States reaches for the ball in the women's wheelchair basketball quarterfinals against Canada on Tuesday.
Venezuela's Jesus Aguilar swerves off the track as he approaches the finish line in the men's 800-meter T53 heats.
Turkey's Ramazan Kunduz uses the side wall for guidance during the men's team football 5-a-side B1 preliminary match Tuesday.
Ruslan Katyshev of Ukraine competes in the men's long jump F11 final Tuesday.
Brazil's Flavio Reitz competes in the men's high jump F42 final on Monday, September 3.
Russia's Sergey Malyshev shoots during the mixed 25-meter pistol final on Monday.
Mickey Bushell of Great Britain crosses the line to win gold in the men's 100-meter final.
Matt Stutzman of the United States competes in men's individual compound archery.
Cuba's Omara Durand celebrates after taking the gold medal in the women's 400-meter final.
Qing Xu of China competes in the men's 200-meter individual medley final.
Brazil's Alan Fonteles Cardoso Oliveira, left, crosses the line ahead of South Africa's Oscar Pistorius to win the men's 200-meter T44 final on Sunday, September 2.
Oliveira is congratulated by Pistorius at the end of the men's 200-meter T44 race.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, presents the gold medal to Aled Davies of Great Britain after he won the men's discus F42 athletics event.
Laura Thompson, left, and Phillipa Gray of New Zealand celebrate winning a heat of the women's individual B pursuit track cycling event.
France's Marie-Amelie le Fur, center, lunges over the finish line to win the women's 100-meter T44 final as April Holmes, left, of the United States finishes third.
Jingling Ouyang of China competes in the women's long jump F46 final. Ouyang won the bronze medal.
Lixin Zhang of China leads the field in the men's 1500-meter T54 heat at Olympic Stadium.
Swimmers compete in the men's 200-meter individual medley SM6 heat 2 at the Aquatics Center.
Athletes compete in the women's 5000 meters T54 final.
Kelly Cartwright of Australia competes in the women's long jump F42/44 final at Olympic Stadium.
China's Jia Juntingxian, left, runs with her guide, Xu Dongloin, against Brazil's Jerusa Geber Santos and her guide, Luiz Henrique Barboza Da Silva, during the women's 200 meters T11 semifinal race.
Daniel Fox, left, of Australia and Marc Evers of the Netherlands dive into the pool at the start of the men's 200-meter freestyle - S14 heat 3.
Amber Thomas of Canada competes in the women's 100-meter backstroke - S11 heat 1.
Filomeno Soares of East Timor competes in the men's 400-meter - T38 heats at Olympic Stadium. The winner, Venezuela's Omar Monterola, lies on the floor after crossing the finish line.
Bastien Grundeler of France serves during his men's singles Class 6 bronze medal table tennis match against Peter Rosenmeier of Denmark.
Alla Malchyk of Ukraine competes in the women's shot put F35/36 final.
Mihovil Spanja of Croatia competes in the men's 200-meter individual medley - SM7 heat 1.
Gordon Reid of Great Britain prepares to serve during the men's singles wheelchair tennis round 64 match against Takuya Miki of Japan in London on Saturday, September 1.
Brazil's Terezinha Guilhermina, left, prepares with her coach at the start of the women's 200-meter T11 race.
Carol-Eduard Novak of Romania celebrates winning gold in the men's individual C4 pursuit final.
Richard Whitehead of Great Britain celebrates winning gold in the men's 200-meter T42 final.
Eleanor Simmonds of Great Britain dives in at the start of her women's 400-meter freestyle S6 heat.
U.S. swimmer Jessica Long enters the swimming pool during a training session on Day 2 of the London 2012 Paralympic Games on Friday, August 31.
Thailand's Choochat Sukjarern attempts a lift during the Men's -52 kg powerlifting.
Chinese Zhoubin Wang, left, chases the ball during the men's team football five-a-side match against Turkey.
Croatian Darko Kralj competes in the men's shotput final.
Great Britain's Ryan Cockbill lines up his shot at the shooting range during the P2-10-meter air pistol SH1 final.
British gold medalist Hannah Cockroft poses on the podium during the victory ceremony in the Women's 100-meter T34 wheelchair race.
Competitors take part in the dressage equestrian event.
Chinese Qi Feng is congratulated by his coach Weipo Li for his gold during the medal ceremony of the Men's -52 kg powerlifting.
Ukrainian Dmytro Solovey, in white, and Mexican Eduardo Avila Sanchez compete in the Men's 73-kilogram judo semifinals.
Hannah Cockroft of Great Britain competes in the women's 100 meters on day 2 of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at Olympic Stadium on Friday, August 31.
Lahouari Bahlaz of Algeria competes in the men's club throw on Friday.
Sophie Pascoe of New Zealand in action during the women's 50-meter freestyle.
Julie Rogers, from left, Jessica Frezza, Martine Wright and Andrea Green of Great Britain react to a point during the opening game of the womens sitting volleyball tournament against Ukraine.
A spectator gets into the athletics action on Friday.
A competitor walks across the athletics track.
James Crisp of Great Britain swims in the men's 100-meter backstroke.
Mark Colbourne of Great Britain competes in the men's individual cycling event.
Ukraine's Alla Lysenko (second in row) prepares to take part in the women single sculls heat on Friday.
Great Britain's Ade Oregbemi takes a tumble in the preliminary men's wheelchair basketball match, which Germany won 77-72, on Thursday, August 30.
The Great Britain team leaves the court losing to China during the women's goalball match between China and Great Britain.
Gold medalist Sarah Storey of Great Britain poses on the podium during the victory ceremony for women's cycling.
The Australian women's wheelchair basketball team huddles and celebrates their victory during their preliminary basketball game against Brazil.
Fans watch the preliminary wheelchair men's basketball match between Great Britain and Germany, which Germany won 77-72.
The United States' Jessica Long, left, and Ukraine's Kateryna Istomina compete in the women's 100-meter butterfly.
British swimmer Anthony Stephens prepares for the men's 50-meter freestyle final.
Prince William and his wife, Catherine, applaud as they watch British cyclist Sarah Storey break a world record in her C5 individual pursuit heat.
Natalie du Toit of South Africa competes in the women's 100-meter butterfly heat.
A volunteer moves the prosthetic leg of Sven Decaesstecker of Belgium during the men's SM10 200-meter individual medley swimming heat.
Natalie Smith of Australia competes in the Women's R2-10-meter air rifle standing SH1 finals.
Arnulfo Castorena of Mexico competes in the men's 50-meter breast stroke SB2 heat 1.
British fans cheer on Ben Quilter during judo competition Thursday.
Jianping Ruan of China competes in the women's individual C4 pursuit cycling qualifying.
Jack Bridge, right, of Great Britain prepares to compete in the men's 200-meter individual medley - SM10 heat 2.
Rebecca Dubber of New Zealand competes in the women's 100-meter backstroke S7 heat 1.
China, top, and Iran compete in the men's group B goalball match Thursday.
Cuiping Zhang, left, of China and Natalie Smith, right, of Australia shake hands on the podium after the women's R2 10-meter air rifle standing SH1 final.
Ben Quilter, in white, of Great Britain competes against Mouloud Noura of Algeria during the men's -60 kilogram judo quarterfinal match.
Britain's Mel Clarke, center, competes in the women's archery individual compound open ranking round.
Torchbearers exchange the Paralympic flame outside Westminster Abbey in London on Wednesday, August 29.
A young boy waits for the arrival of the Paralympic torch in Trafalgar Square ahead of the start of the Games.
The cauldron is lit as the four Paralympic flames, which were lit on the UK's highest peaks, are united at Stoke Mandeville Hospital during the torch relay on Tuesday, August 28, in Aylesbury, England.
Members of Team GB Paralympic look on as they are welcomed by dancers during a ceremony at the Paralympic Village.
Paralympic athletes from Switzerland push their wheelchairs ahead of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Dancers perform during a welcome ceremony at the Paralympic Village.
A general view shows the Olympic Velodrome.
Members of Team GB Paralympic are cheered on by dancers.
Flags fly in the Olympic Park ahead of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Before taking up hand cycling, he had previously driven on the same Brands Hatch circuit, 20 miles outside of London, in a touring car.
Zanardi decided to give up his motor racing career three years ago at the age of 42, having continued it despite a life-threatening crash in 2001.
Driving a Honda Reynard (No. 66) Zanardi sustained horrific injuries during a CART Championship series race in Germany as he collided with fellow competitor Alexandre Tagliani (No. 33).
Zanardi made a successful return to motorsport after his horror crash and raced in single seaters and touring cars, using prosthetic limbs and modified vehicles.
Zanardi was honored for his incredible comeback at the Laureus World Sports awards in 2005.
While he struggled in four seasons in Formula One, Zanardi enjoyed success in open-wheel racing as he twice won the U.S. CART series.
Fireworks shoot from the top of the Olympic Stadium.
Brazilian dancers perform during the closing ceremony.
Fireworks crisscross over the arena.
Fireworks light up the stadium.
Paralympians enjoy the atmosphere.
A general view during the closing ceremony.
Rihanna performs with Chris Martin of Coldplay.
Paralympians enjoy the atmosphere during the closing ceremony.
From left: Sir Philip Craven, president of the International Paralympic Committee; Boris Johnson, mayor of London; and Eduardo Paes, mayor of Rio de Janeiro, perform the Paralympic flag handover ceremony.
Circus artists perform during the closing ceremony.
Flag bearers carry their national flags during the closing ceremony.
A flaming figure of a cyclist enters the arena.
Britain's Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, waves as he is driven into the arena.
Smoke and flames fill the air as dancers perform.
A mechanical fish circles the arena.
Flame throwers light up the night.
A heart of flames is displayed on the arena floor.
The Victory Parade progresses along Fleet Street, London.
Swimmer Eleanor Simmonds, known as "Ellie", waves to the crowds as she walks along during the Victory Parade. Simmonds won two gold medals and a silver at the Paralympics.
Thousands of spectators filled out Fleet Street, London as the Victory Parade passed through.
Olympic boxer Nicola Adams smiles as she holds up her gold medal for the camera.
A marching band forms part of the Victory Parade.
Members of Team GB greet spectators as the Victory Parade passes along Fleet Street, London.
Members of Paralympic GB atop one of the floats.
Members of the Olympics rowing team create a pyramid atop one of the floats.
Spectators watch the Victory Parade as it passes by on Fleet Street, London.
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