He Shanshan (right) and her guide, You Junjie, race in the women's 400m T11. [Photo/Xinhua]
Side by side
A 10-centimeter rope bridges the gap between He Shanshan and her guide, You Junjie. Prior to a race, You meticulously adjusts the starting blocks and positions them to maximize He's comfort. As the race unfolds, the pair run in unison, their strides fully synchronized.
While He could not see the purple track of the Stade de France during the women's 1,500m T11 final on Sept 2, she was able to negotiate the course by relying entirely on her guide. With You's steady encouragement, they surged toward the finish line together, ultimately stepping onto the podium in second place for a silver medal. Earlier, they had also secured a bronze in the women's 400m T11 in the same manner.
Despite only being a team for just over a year, 25-year-old He and 28-year-old You have developed a bond akin to that of family. "I consider her like a younger sister," You said. "I hope she continues to grow and achieve even more through these Paralympic Games."
Once a promising middle-distance runner himself, You retired from professional athletics in 2021. By early 2023, faced with an uncertain career path, You found unexpected clarity in his new role as a guide for He.
Their partnership began with a breakthrough: Within a month of training together, He surpassed her personal best, sparking a newfound confidence in both runners. To focus on guiding He at the Paralympics, You chose to postpone his graduate studies at Tsinghua University for a year.
While You has never competed on the Olympic stage in his own event, the 1,500m, by supporting He's Paralympic quest in Paris, in some small way, You has realized his own aspirations.
A silver medalist in the men's 1,500m at the 2021 National Games, You's role as a guide has rekindled his passion for running and he plans to return to competitive racing next year.
For He, born blind, running is a formidable challenge. Mastering new techniques requires relentless repetition, as she cannot visualize the movements.
"I might need to practice a new technique hundreds of times before I get it right, but You is never tired of teaching me," He said. "I trust him deeply, which allows me to run with confidence."
She noted that this year has greatly increased her self-assurance and courage.
"Although I cannot see this vibrant world, Brother You helps me ensure the world sees us," He added.