Yan Wen Photo: Screenshot from Xinhua News Agency

Growing up in the area surrounded by the rich tropical forest of Xishuangbanna in the southwest tip of China's Yunnan Province, Yan Wen had never seen snow before he was a teenager, but now he is making his mark at the Beijing Paralympic snowboarding event. 

"I was born and grew in a tropical area. It is still more than 30 C at home right now. Being able to go to the Paralympic Games to participate in the skiing competition has fulfilled a dream of mine," Yan told the Xinhua News Agency.

Yan ranked 12th place with a time of 1 minute 12.20 seconds during the Paralympic Snowboard Men' Slope slalom on Friday. In the after competition interview, he said that "I feel that my performance has been very good. However, the biggest problem is that somehow something went wrong with my prosthetics during the competition and that caused trouble with my performance."

Born in a small village, Yan was fond of playing basketball and dreamed of becoming a professional player one day. However, he lost his left leg after an accident at the age of 14. 

Two years later in 2016, Yan decided to try out for the winter sports athletes' selection for the National Para Ski Team.

"I was shocked when I learned that it was a skiing event, but I tried out anyway as I thought I needed to have a dream to achieve and that's how people have a life."

In 2016, Yan left home to train at Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning Province, and was able to join the ski team for the Paralympic Games in 2017.

"It was the first time I saw snow when I arrived in Liaoning. It was cold and exciting. But still I didn't want to give up my dream as an athlete, so I decided to try to accept the challenges that I encountered."

After years of training, Yan gradually adapted to the chilling weather in northern China and completely fell in love with snowboarding. However in 2019, Yan accidentally hurt his waist during a competition at the World Championships in the Netherlands.

In consequent training sessions, Yan was constantly troubled by his injuries. 

"I said to myself that I had to hold on until the Paralympics, and that I wouldn't regret it no matter what result I got in the end."

Yan's effort clearly paid off after he was told that he was admitted to the National Ski Team for the Games. Yet the longer he trained, the more he missed his home in Yunnan.

"I'm quite happy just thinking of my family sitting around and watching me competing on TV."

It took Yan six years to go from a member of China's Para Ski Team to be one of the representatives for the Paralympic Games.

"I succeeded in challenging myself on this world stage. And if I'm able to compete in the next Games, I want to stand on the podium," said the 25-year-old.

Global Times