9 photos that show the strength of the human spirit

The photos and stories on this list are proof that the human spirit is stronger than we think.

We want you to be inspired by people who have transcended their limits.

9 PHOTOS

1. The rower's hands.

British rower Alex Gregory, a two-time Olympic champion, posted this photo on his Twitter. These are his hands after being in rowing gloves for a long time. Success comes at a price.

2. Survival in extreme temperatures.

Wim Hof is a Dutch extreme athlete. He holds over 20 world records, one of which is the longest time in ice water. He is the creator of a number of methods for dealing with extremely cold temperatures, including the Wim Hof breathing method.

3. King of the cable car.

Nick Wallenda became the first person to cross the Grand Canyon by tightrope. This is a tradition in his family: his great-grandfather walked the tightrope through Tallulah Falls, and his mother still walked the tightrope when she was pregnant with Nick. In 2012, he became the first person to walk the tightrope over Niagara Falls, fulfilling his life's dream and proving that nothing is impossible.

4. More than 9 hours in the bar.

George Goode, a former Marine Corps officer, recently broke another record, holding a plank position for 9 hours and 20 minutes, breaking his previous record of 9 hours and 11 minutes.

5. Hand in hand.

Ma Li and Zhai Xiaowei are Chinese dancers who perform around the world on their Hand in Hand show. Zhai lost her arm in a car accident and her partner, Ma, dances without a leg. The couple has already performed in 20 different countries, and each performance shapes and strengthens their character.

6. Tricks from the oldest gymnast in the world.

This 91-year-old German athlete is the oldest gymnast in the world and still regularly performs parallel bars. She started gymnastics at the age of 9, then switched to handball and returned to her favorite sport at the age of 56. She says that the day she stops doing gymnastics, she will die.

7. Conquer Everest after a leg amputation.

Mark Inglis lost both legs at the age of 23 when he was trapped in an ice cave atop the tallest mountain in New Zealand. This did not stop him from achieving his dream, and in 2006 he became the first man without legs to climb Everest. Between the two events, Mark built a career as a scientist, winemaker, Paralympic athlete, and motivational speaker.

8. Playing the guitar without hands.

Jose Antonio Melendez Rodriguez was born without both hands, but that did not stop him from playing the guitar. He learned to play guitar with his feet. On September 15, 1987, he played for Pope John Paul II, and this event changed his life. He released his first album in 1989 and became known worldwide as a talented singer, musician, and composer.

9. Cyclist legs.

Poliel Polanski, a Polish cyclist, posted this photo on his Instagram page to show what his legs looked like after the 165 km Tour de France.