For gifted athlete, disability no deterrent

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.