Members of China’s contingent take part in the athletes parade during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan on Tuesday. Photo: VCG

“My dear daughter, look at me. I can still swim so fast even though I lost my hands,” said Zheng Tao, a Chinese swimmer who has won four gold medals at the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

“As a father, I need to set an example for my daughter,” he said, and the belief has inspired him to keep challenging himself.

In the Paralympic Games, many athletes like Zheng have turned love for their relatives into the driving force for competing.

“I did not feel very confident before the Paralympic Games, but I did my best in today’s competition,” said Liu Jing, winner of the class 1-2 women’s singles in table tennis on Wednesday.

In order to focus on the Paralympic Games, Liu has not seen her son for a long time. 

“I didn’t expect that I would be in such a good state today. Perhaps my son gave me strength… I’m going to send the video of the match to my son now,” she told reporters with an excited tone.

Yang Chao had similar feelings after he won the Paralympic Games record in the Men’s 10-meter Air Pistol SH1 finals on Tuesday.

When asked about his wife and children far away in China, the 42-year-old veteran was silent for a moment, with tears coming into his eyes.

“My wife gave me a lot of support. When I just started to practice shooting, she made a living alone and used the money she earned to support our whole family. Without her, there would be no me who I am today,” he said.

As Yang gradually built his reputation, the family’s living conditions improved, but due to the epidemic and preparing for the Paralympics, Yang has spent less time with his family in the last two years.

“I have two sons who are 3 and 5. Although I can’t always accompany them, I want to be their proud father. Today this gold medal is the best gift I can give them,” he added.

On Tuesday, the first group of Chinese Paralympians returned to China to be reunited with their family members.