The London Paralympics began Wednesday, with thousands of athletes ready to showcase all that they've overcome. These athletes represent the finished products -- the end result of years of hard work and dedication.
Around the world, future Paralympic athletes continue training with the hope of one day representing their countries. Landon McGauley, an avid biker and skier, is one of those Paralympic hopefuls.
McGauley, 17, was paralyzed from the waist down after a mountain biking accident two years ago. But McGauley was back on the slopes in no time, learning how to "sit ski" and setting lofty goals. In 2011, just three years removed from the Sochi Olympics, McGauley determined that he wanted to represent Canada in the 2014 Paralymic Games. And it's hard to question someone with McGauley's will. He did, after all, begin skiing just about six months after being paralyzed.
McGauley is working closely with the High Fives Non-Profit Foundation, an organization that raises awareness for athletes that have suffered a life altering injury. High Fives is helping to fund McGauley's training and connect him with experts and coaches.
McGauley and High Fives are documenting McGauley's training with a video series on Vimeo. In the most recent installment, McGauley is learning to surf in San Clemente, Calif. Not only was surfing a fun form of cross-training, the adaptive surfing that McGauley learned helped with the creation of new muscle memory skills.
The Landon McGauley Project | Chapter Five from HighFivesFoundation on Vimeo.
For the entire video series, see here. For more information on the High Fives Foundation, see here.
