Chinese athlete Wang Haitao (center) plays a wheelchair curling round robin against Estonia on March 6. Photo by Xue Yuan, a reporter of this newspaper
Ji Lijia, an athlete from the Chinese delegation, competes in the Paralympic Snowboard Men's Steeplechase Qualification Tournament on March 6. Photographed by Tao Xiang'an, a reporter of this newspaper
Chinese athlete Mao Zhongwu competes in the men's long-distance sitting group of Paralympic cross-country skiing on March 6. Photographed by Zhang Wujun, a reporter of this newspaper
On March 6, in the Women's Long Distance Sitting Group Competition of Cross-country Skiing at the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games held at the National Biathlon Center, Yang Hongqiong, an athlete from the Chinese delegation, fought tenaciously and bravely to win the gold medal. In the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games, like Yang Hongqiong, athletes from all over the world strive to show their love for sports, but also show the world the spirit of hard work and strong will.
"Sports make me more cheerful and confident"
An unexpected fall occurred when he was a child, leaving Yang Hongqiong disabled. At that time, she was in a depressed state and did not want to communicate with others. By chance, she began to get involved in wheelchair basketball and was later selected to become a Paralympic cross-country skier. Yang Hongqiong said: "The exchange and communication in training has benefited me a lot, not only enhanced my self-confidence, but also cheerful personality, and now often tell jokes to the people around me." ”
Training in paralympic cross-country skiing is a huge challenge for athletes. In the summer, wearing less clothes may be bruised; in winter, being in the ice and snow will face the test of severe cold. In the face of difficulties, Yang Hongqiong had the idea of giving up, but when she thought of other athletes who trained hard and thought of her beloved sports, she gritted her teeth and persevered. "In the past, I often retreated in my life, but now after the tempering on the sports field, I will always insist on what I have identified, and I will never give up lightly." Yang Hongqiong said.
Of the five wheelchair curling team members of the Chinese delegation to the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games, Yan Zhuo was the only female team member. A former wheelchair archer, she switched to wheelchair curling in 2016. This teamwork-oriented sport has made her more and more cheerful in her communication with her teammates. "I used to be reluctant to go out and just wanted to stay home. Now my thinking has changed, and although I have a disability, I can do what I want to do. Yan Zhuo said, "Sports make me more cheerful and confident." ”
"Pursue your dreams to make yourself stronger"
On March 6, in the men's long-distance sitting group competition of cross-country skiing at the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games, Zheng Peng, an athlete from the Chinese delegation, won the gold medal with a time of 43 minutes and 09 seconds 2 seconds, realizing his dream. At the 2018 Winter Paralympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, he finished fourth in the event. At that time, he said: "Go back and continue to work harder to win the podium of the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games." In the past 4 years, he has strictly demanded himself in training, so that every departure has become a process of breaking through himself and competing with himself. Zheng Peng said: "For a while I felt that my level had not improved, I was a little anxious, and then I tried to persevere. Pursue your dreams to make yourself stronger. ”
Chris Foss, Paralympic snowboarder from the Dutch delegation, said: "Sport has changed my life. "19 years ago, doctors asserted that Chris Foss would not be able to walk since because of an accident, but in 2014, Chris Foss made his debut at the Winter Paralympic Games. At the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Paralympic Games, he won the silver medal in the Paralympic Snowboard Steeplechase Pursuit. At the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games, 24-year-old Chris Foss hopes to make a bigger breakthrough: "I fell countless times, but others can do it, I hope I can also complete it." 」 ”
Today, in addition to his status as a Paralympic snowboarder, Chris Fox has published books and obtained a driver's license for a private jet. Sports opened the door to a colorful life for him, allowing him to continuously realize his life dreams.
"I can't see the world clearly, but I want the world to see me"
"I love the sport so much." The 52-year-old wheelchair curler of the Norwegian delegation, Sissel Leken, is now competing in the Winter Paralympic Games for the third time. During her 13 years of practicing wheelchair curling, the sport brought her many joys. "To win on the field, you have to think hard, use your skills and work closely with your teammates." Sixel Leken said, "This sport fills me with strength. ”
Sissel Leken has a happy family, and although she often has to go out to play, her family's support has made her more enthusiastic about wheelchair curling. On weekdays, she likes to read and make friends, and wheelchair curling has made her "circle of friends" more and more extensive, and she has made many friends on the field. When she meets a member of the Chinese wheelchair curling team at the World Series, she will greet her. "Every time we meet, we talk a little bit and treat each other as good friends." Sissel Leken said.
Alex Sleger, a Paralympic alpine skier from the British delegation, said: "I have been practicing skiing for 5 years, the Winter Paralympics is the stage of my dreams, and I have put a lot of effort into coming here. "Although Alex Slegg has suffered setbacks, he has always braved forward in the face of difficulties and found a new life track in skiing.
"As long as you work hard, people with disabilities can create wonderful things." Zhao Zhiqing, a biathlete of the Chinese paralympic biathlon, expressed his feelings in this way. "I can't see the world clearly, but I want the world to see me." Wang Yue, who finished fourth in the biathlon women's sprint visually impaired group at the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games, is full of affection... Despite setbacks in their lives, Paralympic athletes grow and enjoy the joy of sports in the grind of sports. They face difficulties, break through themselves, and write colorful lives with tenacious and hard-working will.
People's Daily ( 2022-03-07 17th edition)