The Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista is used to hosting athletes from around the world and this week one of the most inspiring teams is in town. The U.S. Paralympic National Soccer Team (USPNT) is getting ready for the Rio games with two local guys on the club.
Rancho Bernardo’s Mason Abbiate and Chula Vista’s David Garza get to stay close to home this week for training camp. The two are midfielders on the club looking to go for gold in Rio de Janeiro. While their skills on the soccer pitch are impressive, it’s nothing compared to what these two went through to get here.
Abbiate was born with cerebral palsy, a movement disorder with symptoms that include weak and stiff muscles, poor coordination and tremors. Garza was in a serious car accident in 2012 that left him with a traumatic brain injury.
Neither let their situations define them and now they’re on the USPNT working with Coach Stuart Sharp to end the team’s medal drought at the Paralympics.
You can watch Mason, David and the rest of Coach Sharp's USPNT when the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games kick off on September 7th on NBC and NBC Sports Network.
