Qian Hongyan, 25, who lost the lower part of her body as a child, won a silver medal in swimming on Saturday at the 11th National Games for Persons with Disabilities in Xi'an, Shaanxi province. [Photo by Zhang Cheng/For chinadaily.com.cn]
Qian Hongyan, 25, proved that a life can be changed by individual willpower.
She won a silver medal in the women's 100-meter breaststroke SB5 final on Saturday in the 11th National Games for Persons with Disabilities in Xi'an, Shaanxi province.
Born into a farming family in Luliang county of Qujing, Yunnan province, she lost the lower part of her body below the pelvis in a car accident at age 4. To allow her to attend school, her grandfather cut an old basketball in half and filled it with cotton so she could rest the stump of her upper body. Neighbors called her the "basketball girl" and she walked using her hands. She said she didn't remember how many basketballs she had worn out over the years.
At age 11, she joined the provincial swimming team for the disabled. Lack of lower limbs posed great challenges, just to maintain balance.
Qian Hongyan, 25, who lost the lower part of her body as a child, won a silver medal in swimming on Saturday at the 11th National Games for Persons with Disabilities in Xi'an, Shaanxi province. [Photo by Zhang Cheng/For chinadaily.com.cn]
"It's like a ship drifting on water without a rudder," she said.
Her coach designed a special practice plan. Every day, she works out for more than four hours — swimming, lifting weights, doing sit-ups and stretching her arms. In 2009, she won three gold medals at provincial games for the disabled. In 2016, she placed ninth in the women's 100-meter breaststroke at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. "I was left behind and then caught up," she said, recalling the experience while at the National Games.
She was offered a job at the county's disabled persons federation.
She said a disability doesn't mean uselessness, and she wants to see more disabled people develop the courage to face life and realize their human value.
Qian Hongyan, 25, who lost the lower part of her body as a child, won a silver medal in swimming on Saturday at the 11th National Games for Persons with Disabilities in Xi'an, Shaanxi province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
