Team USA chose track and field's Bryshon Nellum to represent the delegation as the flag bearer in the 2012 London Olympics Closing Ceremony. Nellum earned a silver medal at the games, running the first leg of the men's 4x400 meter relay. He also competed in the individual men's 400m, reaching the semifinals before bowing out with a third-place finish.
But Nellum's incredible backstory is certainly a reason why he was proudly picked to represent Team USA's 529-member delegation. As a freshman at USC, a car pulled up alongside Nellum while he was walking home from a party and shot him in the legs. Nellum was wounded in each thigh and his right hamstring, which required three surgeries to recover. The last operation was performed less than a year ago.
But Nellum persevered and worked his way back to become an elite Olympic-level athlete. He spoke about the honor of carrying the flag for the Closing Ceremony, via Los Angeles Times:
The Closing Ceremony will take place Sunday evening in London at Olympic Stadium.
For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.
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