Swimmer and Navy veteran Brad Snyder is in training for this year's Paralympic Games in Rio. After an accident in Afghanistan, his life took an unexpected turn.
Swimmer and Navy veteran Brad Snyder is in training for this year's Paralympic Games in Rio. After an accident in Afghanistan, his life took an unexpected turn.
Courtesy Under Armour
Snyder grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida, the oldest of four children.
Snyder grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida, the oldest of four children.
Courtesy Brad Snyder
As a young boy, he idolized his grandfather who was a World War II veteran.
As a young boy, he idolized his grandfather who was a World War II veteran.
Courtesy Brad Snyder
Snyder has been a competitive swimmer all his life. But as he grew up, the dream of following in his grandfather's footsteps made him choose the path of joining the U.S. Army.
Snyder has been a competitive swimmer all his life. But as he grew up, the dream of following in his grandfather's footsteps made him choose the path of joining the U.S. Army.
Courtesy Brad Snyder
He was deployed overseas twice, first to Iraq, then to Afghanistan to work as an explosive specialist. But on September 7, 2011, a hidden explosive device detonated near him as he was clearing a path urgently needed by medics trying to reach two injured comrades.
He was deployed overseas twice, first to Iraq, then to Afghanistan to work as an explosive specialist. But on September 7, 2011, a hidden explosive device detonated near him as he was clearing a path urgently needed by medics trying to reach two injured comrades.
Courtesy Brad Snyder
Snyder, then 27, lost his sight and had multiple operations on his face and eyes. From then on, he relies on his service dog, Gizzy, to guide him on the streets of Baltimore, where he now lives.
Snyder, then 27, lost his sight and had multiple operations on his face and eyes. From then on, he relies on his service dog, Gizzy, to guide him on the streets of Baltimore, where he now lives.
Coutesy Brad Snyder
In the water, Snyder can move more independently and navigate using the lane ropes. Forced to adjust to a whole new way of living, he started spending more time in the pool, a place where he felt at home. Shortly after his accident, he begun training for the forthcoming Paralympic Games.
In the water, Snyder can move more independently and navigate using the lane ropes. Forced to adjust to a whole new way of living, he started spending more time in the pool, a place where he felt at home. Shortly after his accident, he begun training for the forthcoming Paralympic Games.
Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Exactly one year to the day since he was blinded in Afghanistan, Snyder took home the gold in the Men's 400m Freestyle at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. He left London with one more gold medal and a silver.<br />
Exactly one year to the day since he was blinded in Afghanistan, Snyder took home the gold in the Men's 400m Freestyle at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. He left London with one more gold medal and a silver.
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Since then, he has a whole new life. When not training for the games in Rio, he works to motivate others to overcome difficulties. Looking back, Snyder says he sometimes doesn't believe his own life story. "It seems very surreal. Even the memories are very -- they seem like something that was put into a movie."
Since then, he has a whole new life. When not training for the games in Rio, he works to motivate others to overcome difficulties. Looking back, Snyder says he sometimes doesn't believe his own life story. "It seems very surreal. Even the memories are very -- they seem like something that was put into a movie."
Courtesy Brad Snyder