A swimmer from Maryland is preparing for his second Paralympics.

Zach Shattuck of Carroll County was born with short stature. He joined the swim team in college but was soon collecting medals in international competitions.

“To be able to get a cap with your name and the flag on it and think, ‘Oh, I made that, that’s me now,’ that’s pretty cool,” Shattuck said.

As a child, he loved playing sports, but sometimes had to listen to nasty comments from other children.

“It definitely bothered me as a kid, but I think over time it almost created a protective shield,” Shattuck said. “Whatever people said to me, it was like you just bounced it off you and showed them what you could do on the field or in the pool.”

Shattuck certainly did that.

He was a substitute at the Paralympics in Rio and won bronze at the 2017 World Championships. He also took part in six competitions at the Paralympics in Tokyo, but did not reach the podium.

“I knew I wasn’t happy with how Tokyo went, so I was really excited to see what I could accomplish with my training, what I could accomplish with a different style and approach,” Shattuck said.

He also advocates for his fellow athletes of short stature. Shattuck says they are currently ineligible to compete in Paralympic winter sports.

“Even for the Summer Paralympics there is only a limited choice, but not having any at all is crazy in my eyes,” he said.

A Paralympian is pushing for change as he heads to Paris to seek gold.

“I had a lot of fun,” Shattuck said. “And I’m just trying to enjoy the process and can’t believe I get to do this again.”