» Sign Up For Breaking News Alerts» Like Us On Facebook» Follow Us On Twitter

Lex Gillete is blind and hopes to bring home the Gold and defend the world record he set in the long jump – 22 feet, 1 inch.

“Every time I step on the track, that’s the main focus, the main goal. I wanna be the best,” Gillete said.

Also part of the elite roster is Blake Leeper, a double amputee who co-holds the world record for the 100M sprint at 10.91 seconds.

At a young age, Leeper was told he would never walk or play sports.

“And now I’m here running for my country, running around the world. And when I step on the track, step on the blocks, it’s for everybody who believed in me, for everybody who supported me. I just want to make them proud,” Leeper said.

Jeremy Campbell holds the world record for pentathlon and the discus in the single amputee category.

Both Campbell and Leeper have a deep admiration for double amputee Oscar Pistorius, nicknamed Blade Runner.

Pistorius, who is from South Africa, recently competed in the 2012 London Olympics and is the only person in the world to complete in both the Olympics and the Paralympics.

Both believe Pistorius has opened the door to others with disabilities to compete in the Olympics.

“It’s like a stepping stone and to see him compete, it gives me goose bumps you know, because it’s almost like I see myself out there,” Leeper said.

Opening ceremonies for the Paralympics are on August 29.

These are expected to be the biggest Paralympics games, with 4,000 athletes from 150 nations competing.

A record 2 million tickets have already been sold.