The Paralympians

Juan Valladares, 31, a member of Venezuela's Paralympics team, participates in a competition in Barquisimeto April 26, 2012. Valladares is ranked first in the world in his category of the 400 meter race, and third in his category of 800 meters, according to the International Paralympic Committee.

Miguel Ford, 37, a member of the Venezuelan Paralympic's team, trains on his racing wheelchair during a practice session along his training route in Caracas April 19, 2012. The roughly 40-person team is grateful to the socialist government of President Hugo Chavez - a highly controversial figure who has polarized Venezuela but is credited with pouring unprecedented resources into grassroots sports.

Willy Martinez, 27, a member of the Venezuelan Paralympics team, lifts weights during training in Caracas April 24, 2012. Martinez was a high-ranked Venezuelan boxer at the age of 18 when an enraged relative cut off his hand with a machete. Now he is training to qualify as a sprinter for the London Paralympics.

Fernando Ferrer (L), 34, a blind runner member of Venezuela's Paralympics team, and his guide Manuel De La Rosa, smile after a practice session in Caracas April 16, 2012.

Oscar Pistorius of South Africa walks before the men's 400 meters semi-final at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu August 29, 2011.

Paralympian Oscar Pistorius of South Africa poses for photographers during a photo-call near Tower Bridge in London September 7, 2011.

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson from Wales, one Great Britain's most successful disabled athletes; poses with the torch which will be used for the 2012 Paralympic Games in Green Park, central London, February 29, 2012.

Lyndon Longhorne gets into his wheelchair after breaking the British record for his S4 class and securing his qualification for the 2012 London Paralympics after the multi classification men's 150m individual medley final at the British Gas Swimming Championships 2012 at the Olympic Aquatics Centre in London March 8, 2012.

Lyndon Longhorne reacts after breaking the British record for his S4 class and securing his qualification for the 2012 London Paralympics after the multi classification men's 150m individual medley final at the British Gas Swimming Championships 2012 at the Olympic Aquatics Centre in London March 8, 2012. Longhorne was the only competitor and was racing against the clock to secure his qualification.

Lyndon Longhorne of Britain swims on his way to winning the multi classification men's 150m individual medley final at the British Gas Swimming Championships 2012 at the Olympic Aquatics Centre in London March 8, 2012.

Jamie Burdekin of Britain serves to countryman Peter Norfolk during a wheelchair tennis invitational test event, ahead of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, at Eton Manor in the Olympic Park at Stratford, east London May 4, 2012.

Irene Suarez, 24, a blind runner and her guide Richard Torrealba run during a training session as part of her Paralympic training route in Caracas March 21, 2012.

Irene Suarez, 24, a blind runner lifts weights during a training session as part of her Paralympic training route in Caracas March 20, 2012.

Irene Suarez, 24, a blind runner listens to a voice aided program on a computer as a blind friend fixes a computer problem, after a training session part that was part of her Paralympic training route in Caracas March 16, 2012. Suarez is part of Venezuela's Paralympic team since 2007. She is ranked first at national level and is heading to her second Paralympic competition.

A pair of sunglasses, covered with tape, is seen on the track as its owner, a blind runner (back) from the Venezuelan Paralympics team, trains with a guide in Caracas April 17, 2012.

Jesus Aguilar, 48, a member of Venezuela's Paralympics team, shows his racing wheelchair to a child after a practice session in Caracas April 14, 2012.

Jesus Aguilar, 48, a member of Venezuela's Paralympics team puts his wheelchair into his car after a training session in Barquisimeto April 27, 2012.

Members of Venezuela's Paralympics team board an escalator at the subway as they head to a marathon in Caracas April 15, 2012.

Hao Weixing, 18, from the Yunzhinan Swimming Club for the handicapped, practices swimming during a daily training session at a swimming centre in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan province, July 30, 2011. About 30 disabled athletes from the club aged 10 to 22 are training for the London 2012 Paralympic Games. The club was founded in August 2007.

Yang Ping (L), 22, from the Yunzhinan Swimming Club for the handicapped, puts on swimming goggle for her teammate Xu Qing, 20, during a daily training session at a swimming centre in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan province, July 30, 2011.

16-year-old Qian Hongyan, from the Yunzhinan Swimming Club for the handicapped, practices during a daily training session at a swimming centre in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan province, July 29, 2011.

Disabled men take part in a wheelchair fencing training session in Russia's far eastern city of Vladivostok, Russia March 11, 2011. The Kovcheg (Ark) organization, which supports disabled people, and local authorities held a series of sporting events to popularize Paralympic sports.