On Veterans Day, we honor the courage and sacrifice of all U.S. military veterans and first responders. At Challenged Athletes Foundation’s Operation Rebound program, this commitment goes beyond a single day—we work year-round to ensure that injured veterans have the support, equipment, and opportunities they need to thrive through sports.

One of the many remarkable athletes who embodies this mission is Brad Snyder.

“We can’t choose the challenges we will face, we can only choose how we will face each challenge. We can choose to face them with courage. We can choose to be resilient, and to never back down.” – Brad Snyder 

Brad grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida, where his passion for swimming eventually led him to captain the swim team at the U.S. Naval Academy. Years later, while serving in Afghanistan in 2011, Brad was severely injured by an improvised explosive device (IED), resulting in permanent blindness. 

Rediscovering Strength Through Sport 

After the injury, Brad turned to swimming as a source of rehabilitation and healing. 

“The pool wasn’t anything I necessarily had to adapt to,” Brad recalls. “It allowed me to show my loved ones that I could still live fully and be okay.” 

His determination propelled him into para-swimming, where within a year he won two gold medals and one silver at the 2012 London Paralympic Games.

A Path Beyond the Pool 

Brad’s athletic journey didn’t stop there. He was selected to represent the U.S. at the 2014 Pan Pacific Para-Swimming Championships and set his sights on competing in the 2016 Paralympics as a triathlete, while also training in track.

Through every challenge, Brad has remained focused on inspiring others: 

“Hopefully, my performance will encourage people to adopt a positive outlook and face challenges with courage and virtue.” 

Operation Rebound: From Frontline to Finish Line 

CAF’s Operation Rebound program proudly supports Brad and thousands of other military veterans by providing adaptive sports equipment, coaching, and funding for competition, helping them return to the warrior spirit that remains within. 

This Veterans Day, we celebrate Brad’s incredible resilience and the limitless potential of every veteran who redefines what’s possible through sport.