Chinese para swimmer Qian Hongyan's story has inspired people to take on life's challenges and beat them. [Photo/China Daily]
Irrepressible swimmer Qian Hongyan hopes to encourage others out of their comfort zone
For iconic Chinese para swimmer Qian Hongyan, competing at the 4th Asian Para Games is more about testing her own limits.
More importantly, the 26-year-old, who has been an inspiration for decades, would like to keep encouraging others to take on life's challenges by entering the pool.
"It's great to participate in the Asian Para Games for the first time, especially at home. All I want is to inspire more people with disabilities through my own stories and experience," said Qian in an exclusive interview with Asiad Daily.
"I want to show that, through para sports, people with disabilities can shine. Through hard work, we can achieve our dreams and, more importantly, new horizons. It was unthinkable for me as a kid that I would have the chance to compete in such high-level international events.
"All of those experiences are great examples of showing a sporting spirit. I want to encourage people to have a more positive mindset, and hope that we all can beat the odds and create better lives through our own hard work."
Known as the "basketball girl", Qian's life story has been an inspiration for decades. Losing both her legs due to a car accident at the age of four in 2000, she became well known by the public early in life, following the publication of a picture of her as a kid sitting inside half of a basketball. The basketball acted as homemade protective gear, which helped her move around on the ground.
In 2007, she discovered an interest in swimming and began training. It was hard in the beginning. Without both legs, keeping herself above water felt like an impossible task.
However, with years of hard work and great persistence, Qian improved, becoming a national team swimmer at the Rio Paralympics in 2016. She finished ninth in the women's 100m breaststroke SB5.
"I just love swimming. Every time I enter the pool, I just feel comfortable and free. And it's quiet in the pool. I enjoy that quiet world," said Qian.
"But when I entered the pool for the first time as a kid, I was afraid and nervous. It wasn't about not knowing how to swim. With the swimming suit, it was inevitable that people would see the extent of my condition. I was shy and didn't dare to leave the dressing room.
"So, I want to thank my coach, who understands me and inspires me. He told me that all of us are actually the same, and that no one would look at me any differently. That's how I gained my confidence."
For the past 15 years, coach Zhang Honghu has witnessed Qian's growth from a shy girl who was too afraid to speak into a mature Paralympic athlete.
Zhang hopes that Qian can worry less about winning and just enjoy every second in the pool.
"From 2007 to the Hangzhou Asian Para Games, the journey over the past 15 years has been a great one for us. I have seen her grow from a girl who knew nothing about swimming, to becoming an athlete who always desires to win. She is a confident athlete with great spirit," said Zhang.
"She has shaped herself into a person who can contribute to society and be an inspiration to many more people. A great testimony to her development is her smile, which shows how she managed to get through all the challenges in her life.
"She has attracted great attention from the public and has received a lot of support and love. I just hope she wants to keep chasing her dreams and pushing her limits. More importantly, I hope she has a great life in the years to come."