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Aspiring Paralympians Doubling Their Efforts

At a sports ground in Shanghai, a group of special athletes are working hard to improve their track and field skills in spite of the summer’s heat and humidity.

The athletes selected from around China are preparing for the coming Beijing Paralympic Games at the Shanghai Sports Training Centre for the Disabled. They will soon be joined by eight more athletes who will participate in the Third International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) World Championships and Games.

From late July to the end of October, every one of the 39 athletes will vie for tickets to the 2008 Paralympic Games.

Under the scorching sun, the athletes harbouring Olympic-sized dreams practice running and jumping, remembering that at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, the Chinese national team won 25 gold, 20 silver and 13 bronze medals.

“Because it is hot and they just come back from the Seventh National Games for the Disabled, we organize only half a day’s training starting from 8:30 in the morning,” says Cui Baogeng, the head coach of China National Track and Field Team of the Disabled.

Athletes are divided into groups in training as if in real competitions. Cui said, “Later they will get more strenuous training, and the selected lucky ones will be added to the list for the Beijing Games. All the athletes are making their best efforts ever.”

Yang Chen, 18, won his first Paralympics medal, the gold medal in the men’s 100 metres, at Athens 2004 Paralympic Games when he was 15. He said, “I believe that we will feel quite good to compete in our own country in 2008. It is like we dreamed a dream, and now we are realizing the dream.

“My dream at the 2008 Paralympic Games is to win a gold medal and break the world record,” he said.

With an impaired brain and arm, Yang’s body did not respond when he first summoned it into action. But he focused on developing his body and coordination in his movements.

Every day he spent more time on training than most others. Although he had an arm disability, he now has strong muscles on both arms, thanks to his training. “At the beginning I spent 15 seconds on the 100-metre run, but I’ve speeded up to 11 seconds,” he said.

Zhang Haiyuan, the gold medal winner of the long-jump at the 2004 Paralympic Games, also dreams of striking gold at the Beijing Paralympic Games. At age 30, she wants to do her best for herself and people who care for her.

An amputee who lost her right leg, she didn’t use an artificial limb at the 2004 Games despite the fact that foreign athletes used artificial limbs to help them speed up. Still, she won. “I’m trying to use an artificial limb, and I hope it will help me improve next year,” she said.

High-jumper Wu Yancong will be 35 in 2008, and he describes his training as “meeting the greatest challenge.” His highest jump so far is still four centimetres lower than the world record. He said, “The 2008 Paralympic Games is my last chance to participate in a high-class competition. I want to do my best in my home country.”

Yu Lin, 20, is a newcomer to the team. Compared with others, her dream is quite simple: “I hope that I can be on the list for the 2008 Paralympic Games. If I succeed, it will be the best birthday present for my father,” she said.

“For these disabled athletes, more pain means more gain,” Cui said.