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After a ‘Kill Shot’ to the Eye, a Wrestler Restarts His Life

Related Topics: Richard Perry

Rich Perry was an Olympic hopeful when he sustained a gruesome injury at a training camp in 2018. The question now is whether he can ever fully be himself again.

Rich Perry watched wrestlers run drills during practice at the University of Pennsylvania. Five years ago, he aspired to make the Olympic wrestling team.Credit...Rachel Wisniewski for The New York Times

PHILADELPHIA — It was a small moment that would have been unremarkable before Richard Perry’s traumatic brain injury, a wrestling coach staying after practice to speak with a younger wrestler, playfully clutching him, making a razzing joke.