China's Yao Juan wins the Women's Discus F64 at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, on Aug 29. [Photo/wxrb.com]
Chinese athletes continued to dominate the 2020 Paralympic Games, which kicked off in Tokyo, Japan, on Aug 24 after being postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Female veteran athlete Yao Juan from Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province, broke her own world record to win gold in a discus category for those with muscle impairments after throwing 44.73 meters in her final attempt.
It was her fifth gold medal spread over six Paralympic Games, including javelin gold at Rio 2016, shot put gold at London 2012, and gold in javelin at Beijing 2008 and Sydney 2000.
"If I didn't start para-sport training in 1998, I wouldn't have been able to carry myself through life's adversities, not to mention travel around the world and win glory for my country," said Yao, who lost muscle power in her left leg due to polio.
Yao Juan won her first Paralympic gold medal in Sydney in 2000 in the women's F44 javelin. She was just 16 years old. Yao remains the world record holder in three major throwing events in track and field.
"What I want to pass on is not only the sporting abilities of people with disabilities, but also the spirit and strength of sports," said Yao.
