AP PHOTOS: 400 athletes vie for US Paralympics Team spots
Posted July 03, 2016 7:00 am
Regas Woods headed down the runway for his first attempt at the long jump as fast as he could on his two prosthetic legs. As he hit the board for his jump, one of the carbon fiber blades broke, sending him cartwheeling into the sand pit. After volunteers helped him get to the side, he was faced with a challenge, replace the broken blade or miss a chance at making his long jumps. "This is my dream and I gotta do it," Woods said.
Woods, 35, of Dunnellon, Fla., is one of over 400 athletes with disabilities competing for a spot on the U.S. Paralympics Team for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio in September. The Team Trials for Swimming, Track & Field, and Cycling are being competed in Charlotte, N.C. After the competition, the team will be announced. Woods lost his legs when he was 2 1Z2 due to a "congenital issue" but it has never slowed him down, "it's all about overcoming adversity", he said. "You've got the make the best of it."
Here is a selection of photos from the competition.
In this Friday, July 1, 2016 photo, women compete in a 100-meter dash final during the U.S. Paralympics Team Trials in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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In this Friday, July 1, 2016 photo, Brian Seimann races during a men's 100-meter dash final during the U.S. Paralympics Team Trials in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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In this Friday, July 1, 2016 photo, Kionte Storey practices his starts before his heat in the men's 100-meter dash during the U.S. Paralympics Team Trials in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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In this Friday, July 1, 2016 photo, runners leave the starting blocks in a men's 100-meter dash final race during the U.S. Paralympics Team Trials in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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In this July 1, 2016 photo, runners, from left, Michael Asefa, Desmond Jackson, Shaquille Vance, Regas Woods, and Trevor Wallace compete in a men's 100-meter dash final race during the U.S. Paralympics Team Trials in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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In this Friday, July 1, 2016 photo, Paul Petterson, front, and Trenten Merrill, back, race in their heat in the men's 100-meter dash during the U.S. Paralympics Team Trials in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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In this Friday, July 1, 2016 photo, runners, from left, Regas Woods, Trevor Wallace, and Garrison Hayes compete in a men's 100-meter dash final during the U.S. Paralympics Team Trials in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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In this Friday, July 1, 2016 photo, Regas Woods flips into the sand pit during his long jump attempt after one of his prosthesis broke during the U.S. Paralympics Team Trials in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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In this Friday, July 1, 2016 photo, Eric Johnson competes in the men's long jump during the U.S. Paralympics Team Trials in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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In this Friday, July 1, 2016 photo, Lauren Gates competes in the women's discus throw during the U.S. Paralympics Team Trials in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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In this Thursday, June 30, 2016 photo, a woman uses a "bumper" to alert swimmer McClain Hermes she is about to approach the wall for her turn in the women's 400- meter free event during the U.S. Paralympics Team Trials in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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In this Thursday, June 30, 2016 photo, a volunteer taps Brad Snyder to alert him he is approaching the wall for a turn in his heat in the men's 400- meter free during the U.S. Paralympics Team Trials in Charlotte, N.C. Snyder, a Navy veteran, was blinded after he stepped on an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in 2011. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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In this Thursday, June 30, 2016 photo, Brad Snyder starts his heat in the men's 400-meter free during the U.S. Paralympics Team Trials in Charlotte, N.C. Snyder, a Navy veteran, was blinded after he stepped on an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in 2011. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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In this Thursday, June 30, 2016 photo, Bryce Ballinger moves along the pool deck during warm-ups in the U.S. Paralympics team trials in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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In this Thursday, June 30, 2016 photo McClain Hermes is tapped by a "bumper" to alert her she is approaching the wall for her turn in the women's 400-meter free event during the U.S. Paralympics team trials in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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In this Thursday, June 30, 2016 photo, Jessica Long removes her prosthetics before her heat in the women's 400-meter free event during the U.S. Paralympics Team Trials in Charlotte, N.C. AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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In this Thursday, June 30, 2016, Jessica Long starts her heat in the women's 400-meter free event during the U.S. Paralympics Team Trials in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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In this Saturday, July 2, 2016 photo, Oksana Masters pedals down the course during the cycling time trials in the U.S. Paralympics Team Trials in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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In this Saturday, July 2, 2016 photo, Stephen Peace straightens his helmet as he waits at the start of the cycling time trials in the U.S. Paralympics Team Trials in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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In this Saturday, July 2, 2016 photo, Todd Key pedals down the course during the cycling time trials in the U.S. Paralympics Team Trials in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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In this Saturday, July 2, 2016 photo, Alicia Dana pedals around a curve during the cycling time trials in the U.S. Paralympics Team Trials in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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