Qian Hongyan, 27, who was known as "Basketball Girl," lost her limbs in a car accident when she was only 4 years old. To help her move, Qian's grandfather cut a hole in an old basketball, filled it with cotton, and placed it under her body. That is how she got the nickname.

Qian moves around on a basketball made by her grandfather. (Photo: Xinhua)

Twenty-two years later, Qian has become a competitive swimmer. Her story has impressed the Chinese public, again. She said that being disabled does not mean life is hopeless. She would like to help other disabled people.

When Qian was 11, she joined the Yunnan provincial swimming team for people with disabilities. However, Qian was seriously unbalanced in the water at first. In her own words, a swimmer without legs "is like a ship without a rudder." She had no sense of direction in the water and had a tendency to swing sideways, which slowed her down. To solve this problem, the coach designed a set of training programs for her. In 2009, she won one gold medal and two silvers at national events.

Qian Hongyan trains for a swimming competition on September 11, 2007. (Photo: People's Daily)

At the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, she placed ninth in the 100-meter breaststroke. "I like swimming. It changed my life and helped me see many wonderful things," she said.

Since 2017, Qian has been working at the Luliang Disabled People's Federation in Qujing, Yunnan. Her role is to assist those in need of applying for disability certificates. Her swimming career has continued. She has earned a total of five silver medals and six bronzes in national events over the past seven years.

"My goal is to work hard and be helpful to people with disabilities," says Qian.

(Compiled by Dong Feng)