Tokyo Paralympics: Chinese swimmer without both hands wins four gold medals

TOKYO: SEPT. 3 – Chinese swimmer Zheng Tao, who does not have both hands, has become famous after breaking four records at the Tokyo Paralympics.

“Daughter, look at me – even if I don’t have hands, I can swim as fast as I want!” After winning a swim, Zheng said in a video message for his daughter.

Zheng, who lost both his hands to an electric shock as a child, won gold in freestyle, backstroke and butterfly.

He has broken world or Paralympics records in all singles events.

The medal he won in the 50m freestyle on Wednesday with a Paralympic record has been widely discussed on Chinese social media. The medal is the 500th gold medal China has won at the Paralympics since 1984.

After winning the event, Zheng told reporters: “Since this is my last event at the Tokyo Olympics, I did my best. I think it’s my best performance.”

On Monday, he set a world record in the 50-meter backstroke with a time of 31.42 seconds.

The demonstration was shown after he sent a video message to his two-year-old daughter. A video of her emotional moment talking to her daughter has become popular on social media.

For the backstroke competition, he stands in the swimming pool with the help of a handkerchief.

He has been hailed on the internet as a “true inspiration” and a “source of pride”.

According to reports, Zheng swam at least 10 kilometres daily to prepare for Tokyo.

He started swimming at the age of 13 and competed at the World Championships in the Netherlands six years later.

He won a gold medal in the 100m backstrokes at the 2012 London Paralympics.

So far, he has won nine Paralympic medals.

-BBC