Paralympian swimmer Brad Snyder of Baltimore added a fifth gold metal to his collection after breaking a 30-year world record in the 100 freestyle event in Rio Thursday.
The athlete finished in 56.15 seconds, surpassing the record time of 56.67 set back in 1986.
Snyder won three gold and one silver medal in Rio. His two other gold medals were captured in London after being blinded while serving in Afghanistan in 2011.
“I have been visualizing that moment every day for at least the last year, coming into that wall and hearing that time,” Snyder, who “I have been visualizing that moment every day for at least the last year, coming into that wall and hearing that time,” said Snyder, who lives in Canton and trains at Loyola University, said in a news release. “It is true now. Finishing this meet with the 100, with that world record - this is the script we wrote, the one we wanted "I have got to be honest, I had some doubts today. I was feeling a little worn down, but I wanted it real bad.”
Overcoming adversity is nothing new to Snyder. While in London, he won a gold medal in the 400 free on September 7, 2016, the year anniversary of losing his sight. On that same day in Rio, Snyder marched in the Opening Ceremony with his U.S. teammates.
The former Naval Academy swim team captain and Navy Veteran will return home September 26.
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