MIAMI -- Magnus Liljedahl is an Olympic gold medalist, capturing the coveted gold in the 2000 Sydney games in the sailing competition.



He is also a benevolent man who felt compelled to give back to his sport in a very different way.

"What we want to do is provide Paralympics class sailboats for athletes free of charge when they come to visit here in Miami, and build this port for disabled sailing," Liljedahl said.

Liljedahl formed Team Paradise, which has a mission to train elite, disabled athletes to compete at the highest level, despite their disabilities.

"We try to adapt the boats to the disability to make it possible for the sailors to go out and sail. That's what it's all about," Liljedahl said.

Team Paradise partnered with Shake-A-Leg Miami to provide boats during this year's Miami Rolex Olympic Class Regatta.

Germany is one of the seven countries using a Team Paradise boat.

"This combination of getting a boat and also not paying a charter fee made it possible for us to do this regatta here. And, to also have one additional regatta in three weeks in St. Petersburg in Florida," said Jens Kroker of Team Germany.

Liljedahl said that's exactly why he formed Team Paradise.

"I feel it's important to give back to these people that really need it and feel very good about it myself," he said. "I came here from Europe and I've enjoyed this bay for so many years, and I like for other people to, for those guys to be able to enjoy it as well, as much as I have, really."