Chinanews.com, Chengdu, August 23, title: Sichuan "Blade Warrior" Chen Yimei: Never stop running and look forward to entering the Paralympic Games

  China News Service reporter Yue Yitong

  After rubbing the stump of her left leg with alcohol, Chen Yimei, the captain of the Sichuan Disabled Track and Field Team, carefully put on a sports prosthesis that looked like a scimitar, and then pushed hard on the ground to expel the remaining air in the receiving cavity.

After ensuring that the prosthesis was firmly attached, she stood on the plastic track with a firm smile on her face, ready to start a new day of training.

Although she had not been able to participate in the Tokyo Paralympic trials due to childbirth before, she still worked hard and took the Paralympic Games as her highest ideal.

  "I love sports from the bottom of my heart, and the feeling of running fascinates me. No matter how tired or hard I am, I want to keep chasing for better results." At the age of 9, after a car accident caused a high left leg amputation, Chen Yimei also Having closed herself for many years, it was the track and field that allowed her to gradually come out of inferiority and pain.

Up to now, she has won nearly 10 gold medals in world-class and national-level professional competitions. She is also the holder of two national records in the T63 (Physical Disability Classification Standard) women's 100 meters and rapid long jump.

Chen Yimei in training.

Photo by Yue Yitong

  Due to the special shape of the sports prosthesis and the free and easy figure when running, the 28-year-old Chen Yimei is cordially referred to as the "Blade Warrior" by the outside world.

Speaking of this nickname, the beautiful-looking athlete smiled and said that she has always sweated on the track and field with the fierce strength of a soldier. Sports prostheses are already her inseparable "good partners".

  In 2013, Chen Yimei, who had just entered university, was recommended to join the Sichuan Provincial Disabled Track and Field Team. After a year of physical training, she had her first sports prosthesis.

Chen Yimei introduced that compared with life prostheses without elasticity, sports prostheses can rebound the force on the ground, just like a spring plate is installed on the leg, so that disabled athletes can really run.

"The first time I put on the prosthesis, I immediately ran. It felt so good. I didn't expect that I would still be able to run one day." Recalling the scene at that time, Chen Yimei smiled heartily.

Chen Yimei is wearing a sports prosthesis.

Photo by Yue Yitong

  In fact, sports prostheses are not easy to use.

A vacuum must be maintained in the receiving cavity of the prosthesis to hold the stump firmly, but this kind of enclosed space and strong suction can cause infection or even rupture of the stump.

"In the beginning, I was not used to it. I endured pain training every day. At the most exaggerated time, I took off the prosthesis and took a look. There was bright red blood in the receiving cavity." Chen Yimei told reporters that even now, she has stumps in her thighs from time to time. Infection, and the root of the thigh will be swollen by the prosthesis.

  Balance is also one of the most important issues when using sports prostheses.

"As the running speed increases, the rebounding force of the prosthesis will increase. If you can't balance your legs, you will easily fall." Chen Yimei's right leg was covered with scars, all of which were caused during training. But she didn't take these pains to heart. "For a person with only one leg, she suddenly feels like two legs, just want to run, and all difficulties are not a problem."

  Only about three months after running with the "new partner" of sports prostheses, Chen Yimei participated in the 2014 National Disabled Athletics Championships and won the T63 women's 100m gold medal, breaking the national record at the time.

That was the first time Chen Yimei participated in a national competition after putting on a sports prosthesis.

Because she was not familiar enough, she accidentally fell down before the start, bleeding from her right knee.

"I didn't think so much at the time. I rushed out as soon as the starting gun fired and won the championship." Chen Yimei said with a smile, "I didn't expect that the first person to pick me up at the finish line was a medical staff."

Chen Yimei's sports prosthesis resembles a scimitar.

Photo by Yue Yitong

  The rapid long jump is another project that Chen Yimei participated in.

In order to reduce weight and avoid bone injuries caused by unstable landing, there are not many disabled athletes wearing prosthetic long jumps, and Chen Yimei is one of them.

"The body's center of gravity is different when wearing a prosthesis and without wearing a prosthesis. After the center of gravity changes, the body needs time to adapt. In order not to affect the running performance, I choose to wear the prosthesis all the time." Chen Yimei said that after getting used to it, the sports prosthesis also makes her run up faster. , Jump farther.

  Today, Chen Yimei trains for an average of five or six hours a day to prepare for the National Paralympic Games to be held in October this year.

"'Enjoy the game and feel the whole process' is my motto. I am confident that I can win a medal." Chen Yimei confidently said that through sports, she found her confidence and established her life goal. I hope her story can encourage more Friends with multiple disabilities stepped out of the pain and bravely embraced the infinitely possible tomorrow.

Chen Yimei in training.

Photo by Yue Yitong

  The seeds of participating in the Paralympics continued to grow in Chen Yimei’s heart. When the interview came to an end, she smiled and blessed the Chinese team going to the Tokyo Paralympic Games: "I hope all athletes can achieve good results and show the world. The Chinese people's spirit of never admitting defeat!" (End)