"Instead of a transient honour, the Paralympic has changed all my life," said Cheng Yu, the gold medal winner of Seoul 1988 Paralympic Games, also the first runner of Beijing Paralympic Torch Relay Wuhan leg held on Sunday in central China's Hubei province.
As a member of the first generation of Chinese Paralympic athletes, Cheng claimed the gold of women's team table tennis in Seoul Paralympic Games and also became the only Paralympic champion of Wuhan till now.
The table tennis champion had a car accident and injured her left leg when she was fifteen yeras old. After eight years suffering from the leg pains, 23-year-old Cheng had to amputate her leg in anguish.
By playing table tennis and attending numerous games, she picked up confidence and found direction of life again.
In the past twenty years, Cheng has won many medals of women table tennis in some international and national games for the disabled. She was also awarded the title of the provincial model worker for her strong belief and spirit.
Now, as an orthopedist in Rongjun Hospital in Wuhan, she is still excited when thinking of those glorious days on the sport field. "It's the deepest love and care from the government and people to let me attend this torch relay. I'am so grateful for that."
Cheng said although she can not compete in the games, she will still watch the Paralympics on TV, and encourage her former teammates and athletes to gain good results.
(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2008)