U.S Paralympian send-off for athletes headed to Rio

City leaders and fans helped send athletes off at the Colorado Springs airport Friday morning. Dozens cheered them on before they boarded their flight.

It’s been years of hard work for the athletes to get to the 2016 Paralympic Games.

“What I’ve been doing for the past eight, nine years has paid off and I get this amazing opportunity to represent my country,” said Brickelle Bro, Paralympic swimmer.

Every Paralympian has overcome an obstacle to be able to compete.

“I’m a double amputee, both of my feet are missing. I was just born with that. Growing up I tried different things- piano, ballet, soccer, but nothing quite fit. So when I got into swimming, that’s when I discovered i really like this,” Bro said.

“I’ve been really struggling with the proper technique and what the strokes are supposed to look like since i’m completely blind,” said Letticia Martinez, another Paralympic swimmer.

Challenges aside, their passion for the sport pushes them.

“I’m 80 percent blind, that’s my disability for Paralympics. It’s basically a full-time job. Every four years you see the Paralmypics summer games but I think it’s everyday for us,” said Tucker Dupree, Paralympic swimmer.

There are 33 athletes on the U.S. Paralympic swimming team. Several of them train at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

“These folks are residents of the Olympic Training Center. Some of them live in Colorado Springs and literally spend hours of day training in their respective sports. They put in incredible amount of hours,” said Colorado Springs Mayor, John Suthers.

The Paralympic games start Sep. 7 in Rio.