Sunday brought the closing ceremony of the 2014 Paralympics, which began in Sochi on March 7. The Paralympics are always an inspiring affair, even if they only receive about 1% of the global attention the Olympics do.
But something about seeing top athletes from around the world competing at the highest level after overcoming a range of impairments is truly special in a way that can't be matched.
See also: The Winter Paralympics Are Amazing Whether You Watch Them or Not
The Winter Paralympics, specifically, hold their own unique appeal in many ways. Extreme sports and high-tech equipment make for stunning visuals. More than 70 medal events were held this year, ranging from snowboarding, to downhill skiing for the visually impaired, to cross-country sit-skiing and more.
To celebrate the 2014 Paralympics, we've selected 20 gold-medal winners to highlight in photos.
Peushkov celebrates his gold medal in the men's cross country 1km sprint, sitting, event on March 12 -- one of five gold medals he won at the games.
Gallagher, right, and her guide Charlotte Evans race to win the alpine skiing, ladies Super-G, visually impaired, event at the 2014 Winter Paralympics on March 10.
Strong, who won the Paralympics' first-ever snowboard cross event, celebrates during a medal ceremony on March 14.
The 16-year-old Bugaev races to gold in the mens' slalom, standing, race on March 13.
Suzuki navigates a turn on the way to winning the men's slalom, sitting, on March 13.
Wicker won gold in the women's 10km biathlon, sitting, event on March 11. Here, she competes in the 12km cross-country, sitting, event on March 9.
Rothfuss won gold in the women's slalom, standing, event on March 12. Here, she races in the women's downhill, standing, event on March 8.
Marthinsen, right, celebrates her gold medal as Tatyana Mcfadden of United States, left, reacts to her 2nd place finish in final of the women's cross country 1km sprint, sitting, on March 12.
Schaffelhuber races to win the women's downhill, sitting, on March 8 -- one of four Paralympic gold medals she won in Sochi.
Mentel-Spee maintains her balance on the way to winning gold in the first-ever Paralympic women's snowboarding event on March 14.
Maiztegui, right, and his guide Miguel Galindo Garces on their way to a gold medal during the men's slalom, visually impaired, event on March 13.
McKeever, left, celebrates his gold medal in the men's cross country 1km sprint, visually impaired, event on March 12.
Pavlenko races to win the ladies 12km cross-country, sitting, event on March 9.
Bochet races to win the women's downhill, standing, event on March 8.
Mikhaylov, center, celebrates his gold medal in men's cross country 1km sprint, standing, event on March 12.
Dueck won gold in the men's super combined, sitting, event on March 14. Here, he races to win his silver medal in the men's downhill, sitting, event on March 8.
Salcher won gold in the men's downhill, standing, and men's super G, standing, events in Sochi. He's shown here competing on March 8.
Konovalova won gold in the women's 15km biathlon, sitting, event on March 14. She's shown here on her way to the bronze medal in the women's 12km cross country, sitting, event on March 9.
Redkozubov won gold in the men's slalom, visually impaired, event on March 13. He also won the men's super combined, visually impaired, on March 14. He's shown here with guide Evgeny Geroev on March 11.
Milenina finishes to win the women's cross country 1km sprint, standing, event on March 12.