What does ability really mean? Three Paralympic athletes are changing the way we answer that question.
Sofia Melo, from Brazil, was a marathon runner. Before her accident, she could run 10km in under 45 minutes. After a spinal injury, she couldn't walk. She was devastated. But she refused to give up. Within two years, she was able to compete in wheelchair racing. Now she can complete a 100m race in under 20 seconds — a time that amazes even professional coaches.
Ahmed Al-Rashid, from Egypt, lost his sight at the age of 14. Suddenly, he couldn't see the ball, the pitch, or the other players. But he could still hear the ball rolling, feel the pitch beneath his feet, and read the game through movement and sound. By 19, he was able to join the national blind football team. Now he can do things on the pitch that many sighted players cannot.
Jana Kovár, from the Czech Republic, was born without her left arm. Swimming was always natural for her — she could swim before she could walk. She has always been able to compete alongside able-bodied swimmers. Today, at 22, she can hold world records in three events.
These three athletes show us that ability is not a fixed thing. What you can do today may be very different from what you could do before — or what you will be able to do tomorrow. As Sofia says: "I couldn't imagine my life now when I was lying in that hospital bed. But here I am."