Guangzhou's stadium erupted in color Tuesday as traditional Yingge and lion dances kicked off track and field events at China's 12th National Paralympic Games. Over 1,000 athletes from across the country gathered for what's already being called 'The Celebration of Human Spirit' on social media.
🔥 The women's 100m T64 final saw hometown hero Jiang Yanhong sprint to gold in 14.99 seconds during her Games debut. But the real showstopper came from Liaoning's Zhang Qinghong, who face-planted across the finish line to smash the men's T63 national record at 14.52 seconds!
"I went full send at the finish – total wipeout but totally worth it!"
Zhang told reporters post-race, still grinning through scrapes. The prosthetic-wearing sprinter revealed his four-year prep involved battling chafing wounds and gravity-defying balance drills.
👏 The emotional opening ceremony saw China Disabled Persons' Federation Chair Cheng Kai declare: "Every athlete here is rewriting society's playbook on disability." With 48 track and field medals up for grabs this week, these games prove elite sport isn't just about perfect landings – sometimes it's about how you stick the crash.
