Four-time Paralympian Li Zhangyu, a 36-year-old cyclist with cerebral palsy, broke the world record and won China's first gold medal at the Paris Paralympics in the men's C1 3,000m individual pursuit, continuing his remarkable career with perseverance.
PARIS, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- 36-year-old cyclist Li Zhangyu set a new world record of 3 minutes and 31.338 seconds and won China's first gold at the Paris Paralympics in the men's C1 3,000m individual pursuit at the Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome on Thursday.
The stadium became a seething cauldron of emotion when the four-time Paralympian cut over four seconds off the previous world record set by Mikhail Astashov of Russia at Tokyo 2020, in the qualifying round. "I thought about breaking the world record, but I didn't expect I could surpass that much," he said.
Li advanced to the gold medal match with teammate Liang Weicong, ensuring a gold medal for China before the final.
"We are delighted to meet in the final round. It didn't matter who won, as long as the gold stayed with China," added Li, who took bronze in the event three years ago. "The gold medal made up my regrets from Tokyo."
Born in 1988 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, Li faced significant challenges early in life, diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of two.
Despite lingering aftereffects, Li's parents never gave up on him, nurturing his love for sports from a young age.
At the age of five, Li received his first bicycle from his father. Though he often fell due to poor coordination, he refused to give up, always getting back on the bike and continuing to pedal.
With encouragement from colleagues, Li often participated in a local competition for para cyclists. His talent finally caught the eye of coaches before he was recruited into the Zhejiang para-cycling team in 2008.
For someone with cerebral palsy, becoming a professional cyclist meant constantly battling against his own physical limitations, but Li was undeterred. He committed to rigorous training, cycling over 100 kilometers daily.
Li's hard work soon paid off. His outstanding performances at national tournaments earned him a spot on the national team in 2010. Since then, he has consistently excelled on the international stage, winning consecutive gold medals in track cycling at the London, Rio, and Tokyo Paralympics.
"He may not always express himself clearly, but he is incredibly intelligent -- if he wasn't, he wouldn't have achieved what he has today," said Li's coach Li Peng. "As a veteran athlete, he could have retired, but what keeps him pushing to reach new heights? I believe it's the spirit of para-sports that supports and drives him forward."
Li's dedication to his sport often meant long periods away from home, but he never let this distance bother him, knowing he had the unwavering support of his family.
"I haven't seen my family for over five months due to intense training. They are waiting for me," Li mentioned his family with a big smile, eager to show his son the gold medal. "Daddy won a gold medal for you!"
"He never tells us about how tough or exhausting the training is, and we are glad to see more and more people recognizing and being inspired by his achievements. We're so proud of him," said Li's wife at home.
As the defending champion, Li desires to win his fourth consecutive gold in the men's C1-3 1,000m time trial event on August 31, continuing to make history in Paris.
When asked how he has managed to stay competitive throughout such a long career, Li rubbed an old shoulder injury, smiled, and said, "It's tough. But I want to keep going." ■