At the 2024 Paris Paralympics, during the women's discus throw F64 final at the Stade de France, 40-year-old Chinese veteran Yao Juan found herself facing a 16-year-old American competitor, Arelle Middleton.

It was a moment that would have brought back memories of her own Paralympic debut.

China's Yao Juan, competing in her seventh Paralympic Games, won silver in the women's discus throw F64 final in Paris on Sunday. XINHUA

In 2000, at just 16 years old, Yao won gold in the women's javelin throw F44 at the Sydney Paralympics, becoming the then-youngest track and field gold medalist for the Chinese team. Over the next five Paralympic Games, she amassed four more gold medals, completing a rare trifecta with titles in javelin, shot put and discus.

Now in Paris, competing in her seventh Paralympic Games, Yao pocketed a silver medal in the discus, with a throw of 41.98 meters, as the gold went to her teammate Yang Yue. When the final results were confirmed, Yao's expression reflected a mix of disappointment and quiet acceptance — perhaps signaling that, this time, she is truly ready to call time on her career as an athlete on the biggest stage.

"There is indeed some regret," Yao reflected, noting that it wasn't the absence of a gold medal that disappointed her, but rather her inability to perform to her full potential. Earlier in May, she had thrown over 43 meters at the World Championships in Japan. The world record for the event — 44.73 meters — set at the Tokyo Paralympics still belongs to her.

"But the gold stays with Team China, and I didn't let any foreign competitors surpass me — that's something to be proud of," Yao said. "For nearly 20 years, Yang and I have been pushing each other, so I'm genuinely happy to see her win."

"To be honest, I felt a sudden sense of relief just now. I've always been the one being chased, and now I can do the chasing. It's a new and refreshing feeling."

Yet, Yao knows that her time on this stage may be nearing its end. "Like any great performance, no matter how spectacular, the curtain must eventually fall. After these Paralympics, it might be time for me to leave the stage," she said, her eyes glistening with emotion.

At the age of four, Yao was left with a disability in her left leg due to polio. In 1998, as a 14-year-old, she made her debut at the inaugural Wuxi city para games, where she was spotted by the Jiangsu Disabled Persons' Federation, marking the official start of her athletic career.

"It's been over 20 years. The field is where I feel most at home, the team has the environment I'm most familiar with, and there are so many people who care about me and have helped me along the way. I really can't bear to leave," she said.

Equally difficult for Yao is to part with the Paralympic stage. In 2000, at just 16, she competed in discus, shot put and javelin, winning gold in the latter. After a setback at the Athens Paralympics, Yao made a triumphant return in Beijing in 2008, breaking the javelin throw F44 world record and clinching gold, all while the Chinese national anthem played in her honor.

"The stadium was packed with nearly 80,000 people. After I won, they all chanted my name. I took a victory lap draped in the national flag, and everyone stood up to applaud — some even tried to shake my hand to greet me. Even now, thinking about it makes me excited and my heart race," she recalled.

After 24 years of competing on the Paralympic stage, Yao sees the arena as a reflection of life itself — both filled with challenges that demand resilience and a steadfast focus on goals. "The key is to keep your eye on the target and never give up," she said. "You have to be brave enough to face challenges, because you never know when the next opportunity will come."

Yao's seven Paralympic appearances have been a chronicle of her life. "I've grown from a naive young girl into a middle-aged woman on this stage. Look, I'm even getting gray hair," she said.

In recent years, she has not only continued her training, but also taken on the role of coach for the Jiangsu provincial team. In Paris, some of her young charges have joined her on the grand stage.

Looking back, Yao likens her life to an electrocardiogram, marked by its peaks and troughs. She credits the Paralympics with giving people with disabilities a platform to express themselves fully, and she is determined to pass on her legacy to the next generation.

"I want to share my knowledge with younger athletes," she said. "If one of my trainees can reach the top of the podium, I'll feel like I've truly accomplished something."

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