Kazumi Nakayama had always been an athlete, but the disability she developed later in life made her a more determined one and opened the doors to a world she had never imagined.
Nine years after a critical injury to her spine left her legs paralyzed, the 33-year-old wheelchair racer has earned herself a ticket to Rio de Janeiro and will be taking part in the Paralympics for the first time.
Nakayama appears to have found a degree of comfort in her discomfort, and does a good job hiding any challenges behind her trademark smile.