He is a retired US navy bomb disposal expert who was totally blinded after stepping on an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan.

But within a year Brad Snyder had become a Paralympic athlete and won three medals in the pool at London 2012.

He won gold in the 100m freestyle and also the 400m freestyle, which actually took place on the one year anniversary of his injury, and he also took home a silver medal in the 50m freestyle.

Stockwell is a former US Army lieutenant who became the first female soldier to lose a limb in the Iraq War and was a flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games.

The 41-year-old received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for her military service, and now has her sights set on giving her all in Tokyo.

But the triathlete arrived in Japan just two months after a serious bike crash, which left her with a string of injuries that included a bruised pelvis and two fractured vertebrae.

The former Navy bomb disposal expert, who was blinded by an IED in Afghanistan.

It was the third Games in a row the former swimmer has won gold, and his eighth medal overall.

“It’s a PB, so I can’t complain about that” said Perry clocks his fastest-ever competition swim in the Men’s SB6 100m Breaststroke.

It was good enough for 16th place.

Team USA take gold and silver in women’s triathlon

Allysa Seely defended her title and took gold, while Hailey Danz took silver with Italy’s Plemani in bronze medal position.

“She did it! Amazing!” Ann Weggemann posted on Instagram

“Tears of pure joy seeing the flag raised, hearing the National anthem with the Gold medal hanging around Mallory’s neck! It’s been an incredible journey to the top of the podium yet one that is so well deserved! Get some rest dear and we’ll be cheering again tomorrow! Good Overcomes!” she wrote.

The Team USA star dominated the women’s 200m individual medley SM7 to take gold and return to the Paralympic podium on Friday in Tokyo.

Weggemann set a new Paralympic record of 2 minutes, 54.25 seconds in her heat, and took that form into the final where she recorded a winning time of 2.55.48.

The Team USA star dominated the women’s 200m individual medley SM7 to take gold and return to the Paralympic podium on Friday in Tokyo.

Weggemann set a new Paralympic record of 2 minutes, 54.25 seconds in her heat, and took that form into the final where she recorded a winning time of 2.55.48.

Her gold medal swim was so impressive she was left on her own in the pool for more than seven second until American Ahalya Lettenberger had touched in silver medal position with a time of 3:02.82.

“I’m overwhelmed in all the best ways,” Weggemann, 32, said after the race.

“I’m filled with so much gratitude for my community that has been a part of this journey, and so much pride in what this represents.

“It’s been almost nine years since I’ve been on that Paralympic podium, sitting atop it, and I have been fighting for it every day since I got off it on September 2nd, 2012, at the London Games.

“To be here despite many a curveball that could have taken me out of my career time and time again, that’s remarkable.”

Weggemann was 19 when she became paralysed from the waist down after a routine epidural injection during a bout of shingles went wrong and she was left unable to walk.

And she spoke of her pride in what she had just achieved.

“Having a good race like that in prelims definitely helps. I traditionally am a faster night swimmer, and so I was a little shocked when I didn’t go faster (in the final),” she added.

“But at the same time, any race that yields a Paralympic gold medal you cannot be disappointed in.

“Because that moment when your hand reaches the wall is about something that’s so much bigger than you, and something that’s bigger than the race itself. Understanding that and knowing that there’s a lot of pride in that.”

Her SM7 classification indicates the athletes have use of their arms and trunk but limited or no use of their legs.

She is competing in six events at the Games and will go again in the pool for the 100m breaststroke on Saturday and the 100m backstroke on Monday.

The medal table in full after another day of Paralympics events and triumphs, freshly updated for you!

Great Britain have nine golds and sit in second - a fantastic effort so far which has yielded 28 medals in total.

All five British swimmers who won medals on Friday night told incredible tales of toil and triumph, a study in the sheer adversity faced by those who reached this Paralympics, writes Tom Harle.

This was a big day for ParalympicsGB in the pool, with athletes coming through Covid, depression and more to claim podium spots in Tokyo.

“The Paralympics has always had its own logo, distinct from the famous five rings of the Olympic Games.

“The current design, which has been in use since 2004, consists of three curved brush strokes of red, blue and green and is known as the Agitos, Latin for “I move”, a phrase intended to encapsulate both the physical momentum of the athletes taking part and the positive, progressive nature of the Paralympic movement itself.”

Find out more about the logo and the meaning behind the Games below: