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.
Absolutely Inspiring Photos To Get You Pumped For The Paralympics
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USA's Allison Jones stands on the podium during Day 6 of the 2008 Paralympic Games. –FENG LI VIA GETTY IMAGES
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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. –GARETH COPLEY VIA GETTY IMAGES
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Argentina's Maximiliano Matto trains in the warm-up pool during the Paralympic swimming tournament in Rio. –BUDA MENDES VIA GETTY IMAGES
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Ricardo Steinmetz Alves of Brazil clashes with David Labarre and Abderrahim Maya of France in 2012. –JULIAN FINNEY VIA GETTY IMAGES
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USA's Tony Volpentest at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. –JAMIE SQUIRE VIA GETTY IMAGES
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Great Britain's David Weir celebrates winning the men's 1500-meter at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. –HANNAH PETERS VIA GETTY IMAGES
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John Robertson, Stephen Thomas and Hannah Stodel (L) of Great Britain compete during the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games. –PHIL COLE VIA GETTY IMAGES
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Great Britain's James O'Shea dives from the blocks in the men's 100-meter breaststroke at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. –MIKE EHRMANN VIA GETTY IMAGES
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Jeff Glasbrenner rebounds during the wheelchair basketball match between the United States and Great Britain in 2008. –ADAM PRETTY VIA GETTY IMAGES
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Italy's Roberto La Barbera compete in the men's long jump during the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games. –ADAM PRETTY VIA GETTY IMAGES
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Germany's Markus Rehm competes in the men's long jump at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. –JULIAN FINNEY VIA GETTY IMAGES
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USA's Jeff Skiba clears the bar in 2008. –JOHN GICHIGI VIA GETTY IMAGES
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Australia's Matthew Cowdrey competes at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. –GARETH COPLEY VIA GETTY IMAGES
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Germany's Andrea Zimmerer at the 2008 Paralympic Games. –CHINA PHOTOS VIA GETTY IMAGES
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Andrey Dvinyaninov of Russia celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in Sochi in 2014. –DENNIS GROMBKOWSKI VIA GETTY IMAGES
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Germany's Ilke Wyludda competes in women's shot put in London. –MICHAEL STEELE VIA GETTY IMAGES
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France's Patrick Ardon celebrates a successful lift in the men's 48-kilogram powerlifting in London. –MICHAEL STEELE VIA GETTY IMAGES
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China's Daoliang Hu competes against France's Alim Latrech in London. –DAN KITWOOD VIA GETTY IMAGES
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Costa Rica's Camila Haase Quiros trains in the warm-up pool in Rio. –BUDA MENDES VIA GETTY IMAGES
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Rie Urata and Akiko Adachi of Japan block the ball at the 2012 Paralympic Games. –DENNIS GROMBKOWSKI VIA GETTY IMAGES
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Kelly Cartwright of Australia competes in the women's long jump at the 2012 Paralympic Games. –MICHAEL STEELE VIA GETTY IMAGES
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Gold medalist Sarah Storey of Great Britain holds her medal during a victory ceremony in 2012. –HANNAH PETERS VIA GETTY IMAGES
