Local Paralympic Athletes Get A Special Send-Off In Baltimore

BALTIMORE, Md. (WJZ) --  The eyes of the world are on the Olympics right now. But soon, another group of world class athletes will be headed to Rio.

Just like the Olympians, many of the Paralympians are from Baltimore and the surrounding area. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake teamed up with the Casey Cares Foundation to give them a special send-off at City Hall Thursday.

These local athletes have overcome enormous obstacles.

Navy veteran Brad Snyder, for example, was blinded by a bomb explosion in Afghanistan.

"My envoy into the Paralympics was incredibly inspirational and transformational for me and my family in the wake of such a devastating injury like the loss of my vision," he said.

Like Snyder, who also competed in the London, many of the athletes have been to the games before.

Jessica Long, a double amputee, has won multiple gold medals over three Paralympic games, and she's more determined than ever this year.

"The people here in Baltimore and Maryland, they're some of our biggest fans," she said. "And you know I really hope that I can come back from Rio with some gold medals."

The Paralympic Games open in Rio on September 7.

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