The US absolutely dominated the Rio summer Olympics this year. For American fans, it was a huge Olympics and one of the most dominant results in some time.
The Paralympics are happening now and the US is currently in fourth place, behind China, Great Britain, and Ukraine.
China is absolutely dominating, followed by a really high-qualtity GB-team.
Anyone know why the USA is so far behind in the Paraplympics?
There are almost certainly other contributing factors, but medal count is a poor metric without accounting for the number of participating athletes. Britain sent 95% of the number of athletes the US sent, but only 66% at the regular Olympics.
WAG but the main factor is how much any individual country wants to spend on it. Certain nations like the US dominate the “sexy” sports, and smaller ones can’t normally hope to compete, but they can put their efforts into winning other medals that the US doesn’t put much into, like air rifle or curling.
As an American, I think I speak for all of us when I say “The para-what? You mean Special Olympics?”
And there’s your answer. 
I have no idea if this explains it or not, but the USA has massive sports infrastructure via its high schools and colleges on a level that is rivaled in other nations only by pro soccer (and, in Canada, pro hockey). The sports that have the greatest number of medals up for grabs – swimming and track and field – are well represented in that college infrastructure.
This is not so in paralympic sports. Unless they’re good enough to be on a so-called “able-bodied” college team, American disabled athletes are on their own with only modest technical and financial support from the USOC. I know a kid who has a good shot at gold this week, and he works out on his own at a local high school track. He also plays sledge hockey on the national B-team and has to drive across the state to get any ice time.
Nearly all other G-20 nations’ Olympic and Paralympic development programs are run through a federal government program, usually a Ministry of Sport. For example, Canada holds its able-bodied and disabled track and field championships at the same meet. They have much less infrastructure for able-bodied sport as compared the USA’s collegiate system, but far more for the disabled.
Just for the record, you don’t speak for me. I follow the Paralympics because I have friends who’ve competed in them and are current coaches. And because there are some compelling storylines.
Storylines? What is this, ‘rasslin’?