Give anyone a set of wheels and it’s only human nature to race. Disabled people are still fully human so why should such competitive instinct be any different. Officially, the first international wheelchair competition occurred in 1948, known as the Stoke Mandeville Games for the Paralyzed. The development of sport for those without movement in their legs was greatly influenced by the number of injuries sustained during World War II, bringing wheelchair availability and livelihood to the forefront of post-war culture. Initially these events were primarily centered around primarily relatively stationary games, save for the racing, including archery, lawn bowling, table tennis, shot put and club throwing. After the 1948 event, wheelchair competitions emerged all across Europe, growing in popularity for those who may had lose some movement but not lost their spirit.The first International wheelchair competition took place in 1952, pitting the Dutch against the British, featuring 130 athletes. International competition today is far and wide, and as the full capacity of wheelchair bound individuals to excel on the field, court and/or road is continuing to be fully realized, more and more sports have been added to the event tally over the years. The 1960s saw individuals with spinal cord injuries take part in wheelchair basketball and fencing, even swimming and weightlifting.The Summer Paralympics reigns supreme as the premier showcase for wheelchair athletes. With specially built wheelchairs that can reach peak speeds of 30 kilometers per hour, combined with grit, talent and determination, watching these competitors go head to head is truly a remarkable experience for anyone of any physical capacity. The Paralympics features races of both short, middle and long distances, none longer than the road marathon. Note that not all events require a wheelchair, and may involve another movement apparatus or no apparatus at all. Furthermore, the Paralympics is also no longer restricted to just athletes with spinal cord injuries, but also those with amputations, blindness, Cerebral Palsy or other serious mobility issues.