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23 Inspiring Photos To Get You Pumped For The Rio Paralympics

Get excited -- the games start on Wednesday.
By 

Senior Reporter, HuffPost

Rudy Garcia of Team USA dives into the pool en route to setting a world record in the men's 200-meter individual medley during the 2004 Paralympic Games.
Rudy Garcia of Team USA dives into the pool en route to setting a world record in the men's 200-meter individual medley during the 2004 Paralympic Games.
Brian Bahr via Getty Images

The Paralympics begin again on Wednesday in Rio, where some of the world’s greatest athletes will compete for their countries across more than two dozen sports.

The games, which feature athletes with disabilities, include all the inspiration and intrigue of the Summer Olympics while also arguably having more of an effect on the people who watch them. To a noticeable degree, stories of the athletes’ perseverance have helped change the views of people who watch the Paralympics. After the London Games in 2012, for example, the vast majority of people in the United Kingdom ― including both those with and without disabilities ― believed the perception of people with disabilities had improved. That’s real change.

To get excited for the Paralympics once again, we’ve rounded up just some of the many awesome photos from Paralympics past.

Get excited. And watch. This is going to be good.

Feng Li via Getty Images
USA's Allison Jones stands on the podium during Day 6 of the 2008 Paralympic Games.
Gareth Copley via Getty Images
Terezinha Guilhermina of Brazil and guide Guilherme Soares de Santana cross the line to win gold in the women's 100-meter T11 final at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Buda Mendes via Getty Images
Argentina's Maximiliano Matto trains in the warm-up pool during the Paralympic swimming tournament in Rio.
Julian Finney via Getty Images
Ricardo Steinmetz Alves of Brazil clashes with David Labarre and Abderrahim Maya of France in 2012.
Jamie Squire via Getty Images
USA's Tony Volpentest at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
Hannah Peters via Getty Images
Great Britain's David Weir celebrates winning the men's 1500-meter at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Phil Cole via Getty Images
John Robertson, Stephen Thomas and Hannah Stodel (L) of Great Britain compete during the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games.
Mike Ehrmann via Getty Images
Great Britain's James O'Shea dives from the blocks in the men's 100-meter breaststroke at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Adam Pretty via Getty Images
Jeff Glasbrenner rebounds during the wheelchair basketball match between the United States and Great Britain in 2008.
Adam Pretty via Getty Images
Italy's Roberto La Barbera compete in the men's long jump during the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games.
Julian Finney via Getty Images
Germany's Markus Rehm competes in the men's long jump at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
John Gichigi via Getty Images
USA's Jeff Skiba clears the bar in 2008.
Gareth Copley via Getty Images
Australia's Matthew Cowdrey competes at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
China Photos via Getty Images
Germany's Andrea Zimmerer at the 2008 Paralympic Games.
Dennis Grombkowski via Getty Images
Andrey Dvinyaninov of Russia celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in Sochi in 2014.
Michael Steele via Getty Images
Germany's Ilke Wyludda competes in women's shot put in London.
Michael Steele via Getty Images
France's Patrick Ardon celebrates a successful lift in the men's 48-kilogram powerlifting in London.
Dan Kitwood via Getty Images
China's Daoliang Hu competes against France's Alim Latrech in London.
Buda Mendes via Getty Images
Costa Rica's Camila Haase Quiros trains in the warm-up pool in Rio.
Dennis Grombkowski via Getty Images
Rie Urata and Akiko Adachi of Japan block the ball at the 2012 Paralympic Games.
Michael Steele via Getty Images
Kelly Cartwright of Australia competes in the women's long jump at the 2012 Paralympic Games.
Hannah Peters via Getty Images
Gold medalist Sarah Storey of Great Britain holds her medal during a victory ceremony in 2012.

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