Swimmer thanks Imgur for supporting his Olympic dream

American swimmer Cody Miller's Olympic dream came true on Sunday -- with the Imgur community cheering him on.

The 24-year-old breaststroker is an avid user of the image website and shared his journey on the platform, from the pressure of chasing his Olympic dream to his lifelong body image issues. After he won a medal on Sunday, he gave a shoutout to the people of Imgur who had supported him along the way.

It's been a testing ride to Olympic glory for Miller, who was born with a condition called Pectus Excavatum that caused a deformity in his chest. He was also diagnosed with asthma.

The condition put extra stress on Miller's respiratory system, he has a sunken sternum and an unusual placement of other bones in his chest. This has caused a reduced lung capacity, with his maximum breathing capacity reduced by up to 20 percent.

Due to what he called "a giant hole in my chest," Miller said he struggled from a young age with negative attention focused on his different body shape.

"Like a lot of you, I have struggled with body image problems through out my life. I struggled with my appearance from a young age," he wrote. "I was a kid who was afraid to take off his shirt in gym class... people thought I was weird. At swim meets, I walked around the pool deck awkwardly while people stared and pointed at me. I was weird and abnormal."

However, over the years Miller has come to realize that everyone has their own body issues and he hopes to use his platform to inspire others to overcome their insecurities.

"No one is 100% satisfied with the way they look. Everyone has some thing about themselves they dislike. And that's OK! Professional athletes, models... everyone has their own insecurities!" he wrote on Imgur. "I've embraced the fact that I have a giant hole in my chest! It's OK! I love imgur! People support and uplift each other. I hope to inspire some one out there."

Despite the health odds stacked against him, Miller didn't give up. He set his sights on competing in the Olympics 200-meter breaststroke and on Sunday he achieved his goal -- winning a bronze medal in Rio, Brazil. Watching his reaction after the race, you would be forgiven for thinking he had just won gold.

To Miller, it felt like he had.

If you don't love Miller enough already, he also likes to wear a lobster suit and make dancing GIFs. A true American legend.