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In the News

Former Navy swimmer in Paralympic Games

Bradley Snyder lost his vision a year ago in Afghanistan when a booby-trap bomb blew up in front of him.A former captain of the U.S.Naval Academy’s swim team, he’s now competing in the Paralympics.

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Aug. 3, 2012

Naval Lt. Bradley Snyder, 28, a blind swimmer, wears sleeves so his arms aren't scratched and torn from hitting the lane lines during a workout in preparation for the Paralympics in London at the Meadowbrook Aquatic & Fitness Center in Baltimore. Snyder was formerly the captain of the Naval Academy swim team before graduating in 2006. Snyder was a bomb defusing specialist who was blinded in Afghanistan in September 2011 when a bomb went off in front of him.

Jabin Botsford / for The Washington Post

Naval Lt. Brad Snyder, 28, shown here during practice in Baltimore, is midway through a seven-event schedule at the Paralympic Games, which end Sept. 9. He won a gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle Friday and a silver in the 50-meter freestyle Saturday.

Aug. 3, 2012

Naval Lt. Brad Snyder, 28, shown here during practice in Baltimore, is midway through a seven-event schedule at the Paralympic Games, which end Sept. 9. He won a gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle Friday and a silver in the 50-meter freestyle Saturday.

Jabin Botsford / for The Washington Post

Naval Lt. Brad Snyder, 28, a blind swimmer, during a workout in preparation for the Paralympics in London. As part of his rehabilitation after he was blinded in Afghanistan, he got back into the swimming pool, where he had spent much of his high school and college years. Five months after the accident, he swam in a meet at the Olympic training center in Colorado.

Aug. 3, 2012

Naval Lt. Brad Snyder, 28, a blind swimmer, during a workout in preparation for the Paralympics in London. As part of his rehabilitation after he was blinded in Afghanistan, he got back into the swimming pool, where he had spent much of his high school and college years. Five months after the accident, he swam in a meet at the Olympic training center in Colorado.

Jabin Botsford / for The Washington Post

Snyder is tapped with a 'tapper,' a cane with a tennis ball on the end to indicate when to flip-turn, by his coach, Brian Loeffler during a workout in preparation for the Paralympics.

Aug. 3, 2012

Snyder is tapped with a "tapper," a cane with a tennis ball on the end to indicate when to flip-turn, by his coach, Brian Loeffler during a workout in preparation for the Paralympics.

Jabin Botsford / for The Washington Post

Snyder, 28, a blind swimmer, and his coach, Brian Loeffler, prepare for a workout.

Aug. 3, 2012

Snyder, 28, a blind swimmer, and his coach, Brian Loeffler, prepare for a workout.

Jabin Botsford / for The Washington Post

As a club and high school swimmer, Snyder said he gravitated to the long events — the mile and 1,000-yard in particular — because his size was less of a disadvantage and there wasn’t as much competition.

Aug. 3, 2012

As a club and high school swimmer, Snyder said he gravitated to the long events — the mile and 1,000-yard in particular — because his size was less of a disadvantage and there wasn’t as much competition.

Jabin Botsford / for The Washington Post

Snyder's best event, the 400-meter freestyle, will be Sept. 7, the anniversary of his injury. “It’s going to be a pretty amazing experience to compete on that day,' he said. 'To me, it means I’ve conquered blindness. I won.”

Aug. 3, 2012

Snyder's best event, the 400-meter freestyle, will be Sept. 7, the anniversary of his injury. “It’s going to be a pretty amazing experience to compete on that day," he said. "To me, it means I’ve conquered blindness. I won.”

Jabin Botsford / for The Washington Post

Snyder, center, is guided by his therapists Jennie McIlvarne, left, Lindsey Carheart, right, and Amy Dupree, rear, in Clearwater, Fla.

Aug. 11, 2011

Snyder, center, is guided by his therapists Jennie McIlvarne, left, Lindsey Carheart, right, and Amy Dupree, rear, in Clearwater, Fla.

Todd Davis / AP

Snyder has an internship at RedOwl Analytics, a tech start-up in Baltimore. He says being in the city is part of his strategy to find a new path as a blind person.

Aug. 3, 2012

Snyder has an internship at RedOwl Analytics, a tech start-up in Baltimore. He says being in the city is part of his strategy to find a new path as a blind person.

Jabin Botsford / for The Washington Post

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