Hopes for more wins

Samba is still very much in the game — ranked fourth, behind the three other men who have swept up the medals at the last two Olympics.

Just as Samba inspired him, Dos Santos said he hopes his story serves as an inspiration for someone else out there. He sees the obvious connection between the hurdles he tries to clear every day, and the much more meaningful obstacles that competing in track helped him overcome as a child.

"I'm able to share that everyone is unique, everyone is special in their own way," Dos Santos said. "You can achieve great things, no matter how hard things are in your life. Work on it and try to get better."

Agencies via Xinhua