All photos by Joe Kusumoto

Nearly 4000 athletes from around the globe came together this summer in celebration of "One World, One Dream" at the Beijing Paralympic Games. Records were shattered, dreams were achieved, and Joe Kusumoto captured it all. Competition and camaraderie existed side by side for 11 days at the 2008 Paralympic Games.

Josh George of the USA cruises to gold and a Paralympic record in the men's T53 100m in a time of 14.79. George helped Team USA win 28 athletics medals, second only to China, which pulled in 77 medals in front of their home crowd at the Bird's Nest.

 

The US rolled over Japan 44-37 en route to the gold medal wheelchair rugby match against Australia. In front of a capacity crowd, Team USA claimed the victory 53-44. Veteran Bryan Kirkland dominated with 11 goals, aided by teammate Will Groulx who scored 10.

Jose Vicente Arzo of Spain took silver in the HCC Individual Men's Time Trial cycling event. US riders Oz Sanchez and Alejandro Albor claimed the other two medal positions.

 

Team USA women's wheelchair basketball celebrates their golden moment after defeating Germany 50 to 38 to defend their Paralympic title, led by veteran Christina Ripp with 16 points. Team USA players Carlee Hoffman and Stephanie Wheeler also came through with clutch free throws in the closing minutes of the game.

 

Wheelchair tennis has been a fan favorite since it was introduced to the Paralympic Games in Barcelona in 1992. The high intensity matches in Beijing were no exception, especially when reigning singles champ Esther Vergeer of the Netherlands proved once again why she is the queen.

 

Ten days of competition. 160 finals. Records smashed and smashed again. The Bird's Nest was a hotbed of drama and intrigue for athletics competition during this year's Paralympic Games.

Zhang Haidong, Paralympic powerlifting gold medalist, relayed the torch through the Bird's Nest at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. Hou Bin, Chinese track and field athlete, wowed the crowd as he climbed to the top of the Bird's Nest to light the torch from his wheelchair.

Linda Mastandrea, a two-time Paralympian in wheelchair track (1992, 1996 gold and silver medalist), was ecstatic to be a spectator at the 2008 Paralympic Games. Mastandrea is director of Paralympic Sport and Accessibility for Chicago 2016. Joe Kusumoto has been documenting Paralympic athletes since the 2004 Games in Athens, Greece. He manages the adaptive ski program at the Keystone Adaptive Center, a program of the Breckenridge (Colo.) Outdoor Education Center.