These Athletes Prove You Can Do Incredible Things With Any Kind Of Body

    Prepare to be inspired.

    Sally Tamarkin
    by Sally Tamarkin

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Meet Team Some Assembly Required. They organize and prepare teams of adaptive athletes to compete in athletic events.

    What does it mean to be an adaptive athlete?

    Team SAR has 25 athletes across the country.

    Team SAR is made up of both veterans and civilians who are missing a limb (or limbs) "yet compete at a high level in CrossFit, Olympic lifting, obstacle course racing, power lifting, and various other fitness related events," King says.

    BuzzFeed Life reached out to some of Team SAR's athletes. They wrote back and told us more about themselves and why they train and compete.

    "I was injured in Afghanistan in 2009 while serving in the Marines. From that injury I lost my right leg below the knee."

    "In December of 2012 I walked into Ultimate CrossFit in Charlotte."

    "Being an adaptive athlete myself I am always trying to improve my skills and prove to everyone that I'm still able to do all the same things 'able bodied' athletes do."

    "I served as a green beret in the army for 12 years. In 2013 I was injured by an IED resulting in the loss of my right arm and leg."

    "Physical fitness was a huge part of my job and I saw no reason to stop."

    "Ten months after [my injury] I ran my first Tough Mudder in West Virginia."

    "I was born with missing legs and deformed fingers on both hands due to a Chernobyl nuclear accident in Ukraine."

    "I think I love running so much because this was the first sport that actually gave me confidence!"

    "I was given my first set of running legs three years ago and I always remember this feeling of flying as I run."

    "I lost my left arm (dominant arm) just over 11 years ago at the age of 13 in a traumatic wakeboarding / rope accident."

    "After the amputation I immediately returned to wakeboarding and began competing and placing at competitions."

    "I practiced lacrosse religiously and made the varsity team at my high school...

    "Throughout the past 11 years of my life I have continuously found ways to adapt and relearn things with one arm."

    "I'm a congenital below-elbow amputee, meaning I was born with the condition."

    "I train for a few reasons: I want my kids to see being in shape and being competitive as healthy."

    "... I train to be competitive as a US Paralympic thrower and competitive adaptive CrossFit athlete."

    Go team!