16 Inspiring Photos From The London Paralympics

The 2012 Paralympic Games began Wednesday, soothing our post-Olympics hangover with heartwarming stories of athletes completing remarkable, against-the-odds feats. Here are a few of them.

1.

Matthew Lloyd / Getty Images

Zeinab Oteify of Egypt prays before attempting a lift in the women's -44kg powerlifting competition.

2.

Bryn Lennon / Getty Images

Juan Jose Mendez of Spain competes in the Men's Individual Cycling C1 Pursuit qualification round.

3.

Emilio Morenatti / AP

Netherlands's Amy Siemons competes in a women's 100m T34 race.

4.

Michael Steele / Getty Images

Lahouari Bahlaz of Algeria competes in the Men's Club Throw - F31/32/51 competition.

5.

Gareth Copley / Getty Images

Arnold Boldt of Canada competes in the Men's Individual Cycling C2 Pursuit qualification round.

6.

Michael Steele / Getty Images

Sally Brown of Great Britain competes in the Women's 200m - T46 heats.

7.

Julian Finney / Getty Images

Yunidis Castillo of Cuba competes in the Women's 200m - T46.

8.

Clive Rose / Getty Images

Jessica Long of USA during the Women's 400m Freestyle S8 heats.

9.

Gareth Copley / Getty Images

Jaye Milley of Canada competes in the Men's Individual Cycling C1 Pursuit qualification round.

10.

Lefteris Pitarakis / AP

Brazil's Carlos J Barto Silva being led by his guide after the men's 1500m T11 round 1 race.

11.

Clive Rose / Getty Images

Thomas Young of Great Britain during the Men's 400m Freestyle heats.

12.

Bryn Lennon / Getty Images

Joseph Berenyi of the United States competes in the Men's Individual Cycling 3 Pursuit qualification round.

13.

Matt Dunham / AP

Shaquille Vance from the U.S. prepares to throw in the men's shot put F42/44 final.

14.

Alastair Grant / AP

Martine Wright of Britain and Ilona Yudina, left, of Ukraine, during the women' sitting volleyball match. Wright lost her legs in the 7/7 London terrorist attacks.

15.

Bryn Lennon / Getty Images

Kris Bosmans of Belgium, who suffers from cerebral palsy, competes in the Men's Individual Cycling 3 Pursuit qualification round.

16.

Bryn Lennon / Getty Images

Sarah Storey of Great Britain after winning gold in the Women's Individual C5 Pursuit Cycling competition.