Participants get ready to start. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 2020 Spartan Race in China wrapped up in South China's Guangzhou with nearly 3,000 runners, including adults and juniors, participating in the final leg on Saturday.

The competition remained dynamic nationwide despite social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic this year. A total of 22,638 Chinese participants took part in a month-long online Spartan challenge along with people from over 20 countries and regions all around the world, beginning at the end of April. Virtual training camps helped participants prepare for their dream races.

2020 witnessed another nine legs in the country, with three in Beijing (August and October) and one each in North China's Hebei province, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Shanghai, Xiamen and Shenzhen since July, when COVID-19 control was eased in China.

An new obstacle, "Gauntlet", was added in this leg. Participants had to wade through more than 20 hanging hard and heavy sand bags as quickly as possible.

Luo Xiangjian (R) during the race. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Luo Xiangjian was among the racers. The 26-year-old lost his right leg when he was five but did not give up sports. He practiced basketball, running, high jumping and long jumping and won two gold medals at the Yunnan provincial paragames in 2014.

A 4-hour Hurricane Heat gathered 140 brave participants who were separated into two groups and required to finished a previously unknown task as a group. The tough challenge taught each of the members not to give up individually and as teammates.