Indeed, the 16th Summer Paralympic Games are set to begin next week, with Team USA featuring as many as 141 returning Paralympians. Many of them are well aware of the true weight of a medal. This high-flying event will kick off on 28 August and run until 8 September, showcasing 22 sports that are as eagerly followed as they are anticipated, including wheelchair basketball, para-athletics, goalball, and adaptive swimming.

The United States, without a top spot in the medal table since hosting in Atlanta in 1996, has built an impressive lineup. With stars in every category, they aim to overthrow the Chinese empire that has predominantly reigned since the turn of the millennium.

It's true that Katie Holloway is an icon in sitting volleyball; not to mention Kendall Gretsch in paratriathlon with her 5 medals; Army veteran Bobby Bodi is an institution in powerlifting; Oksana Masters and her versatile talent across multiple disciplines is unprecedented; wheelchair basketball co-captain Steve Serio is a beacon of inspiration; and then there's Jessica Long with her nearly thirty medals, among others.

However, there will be some gems, not as heavily spotlighted and without as much experience as those mentioned, but with many things to say. These prospects, many of them belonging to the elite in their disciplines, are set to make a breakthrough in the Paralympic world, with their stories of perseverance bringing tears of emotion to one's eyes. Although, in truth, this factor pertains to practically all para-athletes, whose efforts to reach the elite level are nothing short of colossal.

Hunter Woodhall

Of course, Woodhall is a rising star at just 25, and eager to replicate the recent triumphs of his wife, Tara Davis-Woodhall. Born with fibular hemimelia, Woodhall faced the harsh reality of having both legs amputated below the knee before he even turned one. Growing up in Syracuse, Utah, he was homeschooled until the fifth grade, when he transitioned to public school, only to encounter relentless bullying due to his disability.

Woodhall then, conquered his fears and ran like no one else to reach his dreams. His paralympic journey took off in Rio 2016, where he claimed a silver in the 200 meters with a time of 21.12 seconds and a bronze in the 400 meters, clocking in at 48.61 seconds. Yet, his impact extends beyond the track. 

Alongside his wife, Tara—herself an elite athlete and gold medalist in the long jump at Paris 2024—Woodhall advocates passionately for greater inclusion and visibility of athletes with disabilities in mainstream sports. Together, they’re a formidable force, both on and off the field. Looking ahead, the youngster will take to the track again in the 100 meters preliminaries on 1 September, followed by the 400 meters on 6 September, with his eyes focused on a gold that still resists him.

Abbas Karimi

This 27-year-old Afghan, has transformed his life, evolving from a refugee to a world-class athlete. Born in 1997 in Afghanistan, Karimi came into the world without arms, facing monumental challenges from a very young age. In a country marked by conflict, his path was far from easy.

It was at the age of 13 that Karimi discovered his passion for swimming, sparked by his victory in his first competition at the Afghan National Championships. This triumph was just the beginning of a successful career. At 16, he fled his homeland in search of a better future. He spent several years in a refugee camp in Turkey, where he not only continued training but also excelled in the sporting arena, securing two Turkish National Championships.

In 2016, the United States granted him refugee status, opening the door to a new chapter in his life. He began training with the firm hope of representing his new home on the Paralympic stage. His dedication and hard work culminated in his qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Games, where he proudly represented the United States, achieving a commendable eighth place. Now, in Paris, Karimi is set to compete in the 50-metre butterfly, determined to continue breaking barriers and proving that limits exist only to be challenged.

Julia Gaffney

The 2000-born athlete was born with proximal femoral focal deficiency and had her right leg amputated above the knee and her left leg below the knee due to fibular hemimelia. Raised in a Russian orphanage, demonstrating that he knows how to live with pain and how to handle it, her life took a great turn when she was adopted by an American family from Arkansas at the age of five.

Since 2015, Gaffney has proven to be an unstoppable force in national and international competitions, building a reputation that few can match. At just 24, she already boasts an impressive career, having secured two bronze medals at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Her performance at World Championships is equally remarkable, with 13 medals to her name, including three golds.

Seen by many as the natural successor to Paralympic legend Jessica Long, Gaffney is not only aiming to solidify her legacy but also to inspire the next generation of swimmers. Long herself has highlighted Julia's talent, acknowledging that the future of Paralympic swimming is in capable hands: "We have incredibly high ceilings. And in fact, I'm living with my former roommate from before Tokyo, Julia Gaffney," Long remarked, underscoring the promise Gaffney holds for the sport.

Nick Mayhugh

The Virginia talent was a former American football star, metamorphosing his passion into an unstoppable career in Paralympic athletics. Despite being born with cerebral palsy, Mayhugh made his mark by setting several world records, most notably his impressive time of 10.95 seconds in the 100 metres at Tokyo 2020.

His journey began in football, where he played at Radford University from 2015 to 2018. Mayhugh quickly stood out and was instrumental in the U.S. Paralympic men’s football team, winning a bronze medal in 2019. Scoring eight goals in six matches, he was named the U.S. Disabled Footballer of the Year, a title that reflected his undeniable talent.

Alternatively, fate had different plans for him, and he decided to shift his focus to athletics. He made his Paralympic athletics debut at the Tokyo 2021 Games, where he claimed the silver medal in the 400 metres, crossing the finish line in 50.26 seconds. Not content with just that, he also contributed to the mixed 4x100 metre relay team, where they secured the gold medal. Now, a prominent figure in para-athletics, Mayhugh is gearing up for the 100 metre preliminaries on 1 September, aiming to keep his name at the top, with four medals already to his name before even turning 30.

Ian Seidenfeld

The very young Ian Seidenfeld is one of the greatest assets in the American team’s ranks. At just 23 years old, Ian has dwarfism, and his immense talent has always shone through as his calling card whenever he faced a ping-pong table.

Seidenfeld was born in Lakeville, Minnesota, and his first Olympic adventure dates back to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, when he was just 20 years old, competing in the men’s individual table tennis event, Class 6. There, his incredibly refined skill with the paddle left the world astonished, including then-Paralympic champion Peter Rosenmeier, who had to settle for silver in favor of Seidenfeld.

With that first statement of intent, he hopes to extend his winning streak in Paris, after making American history by becoming the first U.S. Paralympic table tennis player to win gold since his teammate and mentor, Tahl Leibovitz, in Atlanta 1996. He was born with pseudoachondroplasia, the same condition as his father and coach, Mitchell Seidenfeld, who was also a former table tennis player and gold medalist in Barcelona 1992.