In an amazing feat, one year after losing his eye sight, Brad Snyder wins a gold medal in the Paralympics 400 meter freestyle swimming competition!  Congrats Brad!

Snyder is a former United States Navy Lieutenant who lost his sight in 2011 after stepping on a Taliban explosive device in Afghanistan.  The doctors told him that he'd never see again, but this did not make him give up.  In an interview with NPR, Brad explains how swimming helped bring his confidence back.  This Navy SEAL is no stranger to the pool.  Individuals have to go through extensive training to make the cut for this elite squad.

"I know there are a lot of guys out there, guys and girls, who are struggling with a tough hand and hopefully my success here at the Paralympics can reach out to those people and say, 'Hey, there is a way forward; there is something you can go out and do that will give you that relevance and success again", Snyder says in his interview with NPR.

We're proud of you Brad.  Thanks for inspiring all of us!

Peace & Love,

Jon

The Good World News :)

Hungary's 200m breaststroke champion Daniel Gyurta has revealed he will have a copy of his gold medal made in memory of the former world champion Alexander Dale Oen.

Dale Oen, who was from Norway, died at the age of 26 earlier this year from a rare heart disease while at a training camp in Arizona.

The Norwegian had won the 100m breaststroke at the world championships less than a year earlier and was one of the favourites in the 100m and 200m events for the Olympics.

Gyurta told Hungarian reporters on Friday that he will send a copy of his gold medal to Dale Oen's relatives.

"We became very good friends this year," Gyurta said. "I'm sure that he would have won the 100 here in London. This is the least I can do to pay respect to my friend."

Bjorn Soleng, the General Secretary of the Norwegian Swimming Federation, said on behalf of the family that he is sure they will appreciate the gesture very much.

South African Cameron van der Burgh, who took out the 100m event, dedicated his swim to Dale Oen. Dale Oen became a hero in Norway after dedicating his world championship win to the 77 people killed in last year's massacre by Anders Breivik.