hangzhou cyclist li zhangyu wins china's first gold at paris paralympics
li zhangyu (r) from hangzhou poses with the chinese national flag next to his teammate liang weicong. [photo/china disabled persons' federation]
hangzhou's li zhangyu, known as the magic rider, clinched china's first gold medal at the paris paralympics in the track cycling men's c1 3,000m individual pursuit, marking his fourth consecutive paralympic title. his victory not only saw the setting of a new record but also fulfilled a long-standing personal goal.
li's wife, zhang guqing, watched the race with bated breath, finally releasing tears of joy when he crossed the finish line. "now i can finally ask him, 'does your neck still hurt?'" she said, referring to his injury.
li, a 33-year-old cyclist who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth, has overcome immense challenges throughout his career. despite numerous injuries and hardships, he remains committed to the sport he loves. "as long as i have strength, i will continue to compete," li said.
li's journey began in lin'an, a mountainous area of hangzhou, where he developed a love for cycling at a young age. his determination and talent led him to join hangzhou's paralympic training team in 2007. since then, he has won numerous medals, including golds at the london, rio, and tokyo paralympics.
off the track, li is a family man and a lego enthusiast. he has a passion for road trips and dreams of revisiting tibet with his wife after the paris games. his family's unwavering support, along with growing public attention, fuels his drive to keep pushing forward.
"family is my greatest support, and the encouragement from fans is my greatest motivation," li said. "with their love, i can face any challenge without fear."
li zhangyu competes in the men's c1 3,000m individual pursuit. [photo/people's daily]
