On Tuesday, December 9, track and field events kicked off at China's 12th National Paralympic Games in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province.
The day began with a traditional Yingge performance and vibrant dragon and lion dances that charged up the crowd 🐲🦁. Soon after, athletes and coaches entered the stadium, and China Disabled Persons' Federation Chairman Cheng Kai officially opened the competitions.
Women's 100m T64 Final
In the T64 class—for athletes running with a single below-knee prosthesis—Guangdong local Jiang Yanhong claimed gold in 14.99 seconds on her Games debut. Talk about a grand entrance! 🏃♀️✨
Men's 100m T63 Final
In the T63 class—for athletes with an above-knee prosthesis—Liaoning's Zhang Qinghong smashed the national record, finishing in 14.52 seconds. He even took a tumble crossing the line but popped right back up to soak in the cheers 🔥.
"I pressed forward too hard with my center of gravity when I touched the finish line and couldn't control it, so I fell down," Zhang said. "I'm over the moon because four years of hard work have paid off. Training with prostheses brings unique challenges—balancing your center of gravity and dealing with stump chafing are just a couple. But I beat those hurdles, and it all paid off!"
With more events lined up, these Games are shaping up to be an inspiring showcase of resilience, teamwork and incredible athleticism. Stay tuned for more highlights from Guangzhou! 🏅
Reference(s):
Track and field events begin at 12th National Paralympic Games
cgtn.com
