The 22-year-old is one of eight athletes from Latin America whose stories are being told by the Agitos Foundation, the development arm of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

Castro lost his sight in 2012 having been diagnosed with Keratoconus, a progressive eye disease, at the age of 16.

Four years later, Castro is optimistic about making national history ahead of his Paralympic debut in Rio de Janeiro. 

"After becoming blind, I wanted to die," he said.

"Now, if you ask me if I want to have my eyesight back or to be crowned as Paralympic champion, I choose the latter without a doubt because it is through Para-sports that I can inspire people and show them that a disability should not limit you."

Over the last 18 months, 155 athletes, coaches and classifiers from 23 countries, including Castro, are said to have benefited from expert training provided during the "Road to Rio 2016: Agitos Foundation Sessions".

Organised in partnership with the Rio 2016 Organising Committee and Brazilian Paralympic Committee, the sessions aimed to improve coaching and Para-sport standards as part of the legacy of Latin America’s first Paralympic Games.

Castro’s story also launches the #TeamAgitos, which looks to raise awareness of the Agitos Foundation by encouraging sport fans, athletes and partners to join the team for developing Para-sport by showing their support and sharing their own updates on social media.

Last year, Castro took part in an Agitos Foundation training workshop in São Paulo in Brazil, and months later won the 5,000m T11 bronze medal at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games.

"The Agitos Foundation has given me the opportunity to get to know more about Paralympic sports," he said.

"It has helped me a lot.

"I took part in a programme in São Paulo, Brazil, and interacted with other athletes with different impairments, which was highly enriching.

"It has helped me grow as an athlete."

The Agitos Foundation Road to Rio 2016 videos will feature one athlete per week until August 4, to show the stories that exist in Para-sport development as part of #TeamAgitos.

A final video for each athlete will then be published the week before the Rio 2016 Paralympics begin.

"Darwin Castro's life as an athlete. #TeamAgitos - on the Road to Rio", the second of two films produced, can be accessed by clicking here.