He is Wang Xian, a young man from Henan who lost both arms in an accident during childhood and was once looked at with pity. However, he never gave up on life’s passions. Through perseverance and courage, he continuously strived forward, creating a legendary career in sports: within just a few years, he won multiple national and provincial cycling championships, regaining self-confidence and a sense of worth through athletics. With his actions, he embodies the belief: “We may not choose our fate, but we can change it.”
On October 16, I approached this 25-year-old young man. When I met Wang Xian, he was repairing a bicycle at a shop. Years of training have darkened his skin. Though not tall, he has a strong build, and his face radiates confidence and optimism. Even when talking about the accident from those years, he still wore a smile.
In 2000, 13-year-old Wang Xian accidentally touched a transformer while playing, resulting in the loss of both arms below the elbows. Going from an able-bodied child to someone unable even to eat or dress independently, he nearly broke down. He cried all day and even ran away from home. Later, with the care and guidance of his family, the never-give-up Wang Xian pulled himself together. But when he returned to school, the strange looks from classmates made him feel an unprecedented sense of inferiority.
Wang Xian said that when he went to the toilet, a crowd would follow to watch him. During class, students didn’t listen to the teacher but stared at him to see how he wrote with his feet. Unable to bear the stares, he dropped out of junior high. Even in the height of summer, he wore long sleeves to cover his residual limbs.
In 2002, 15-year-old Wang Xian joined the Yucheng County Sports Commission in Shangqiu City, thus beginning his athletic career. On his first run, around a 200-meter track, he ran 20 laps in one go. When the coach asked if he was tired, he said no. Impressed by his performance, the next day the coach took him on a 7-kilometer cross-country run.
At the start of his training, to improve his physical strength through push-ups, Wang Xian used bricks tied to his residual arms. His stumps swelled and were covered in blisters. To save money for his family, he ate steamed buns. Wang Xian said, “Back then, I could eat three or four hot steamed buns at once, so I’d buy them a day early, let them harden, and then I could eat one less.” Perhaps it was his strong spirit that brought extraordinary stamina. Through training at the sports school, Wang Xian gradually found his place.
In 2005, Wang Xian arrived at the Henan Provincial Training Base for Disabled Athletes. While others’ thighs grew thinner with training, his became stronger. That year, he switched from track and field to cycling. Wang Xian told me that when practicing cycling, he always put in double the effort.
Without safety gear, even a slight bump would cause him to fall off the bike, so he tied his residual arms to the handlebars using knee pads. While others trained three or four hours a day, he stuck to eight. Long hours of training often caused his legs and buttocks to chafe, with skin breaking and sticking to his clothes. He had to endure pain just to take them off during showers.
Thanks to Wang Xian’s relentless efforts, in 2007, he won silver in the 1km time trial and fifth place in the 4km event at the 7th National Games for Persons with Disabilities. In 2009, he swept all three gold medals at the 5th Henan Provincial Games for the Disabled. In 2011, at the 8th National Games for Persons with Disabilities, he earned one gold and two silvers. In 2012, he claimed the team sprint gold at the World Para-cycling Track Championships—the first world championship gold for China’s disabled cycling team.
“Over these years, I’ve taken part in fifty or sixty races, big and small. Each one has been a challenge and a step forward for me,” Wang Xian said, his face filled with hope and pride. During the interview, I saw that although he had lost both arms, Wang Xian managed tasks like pouring water, using the internet, sending texts, and fixing bikes all on his own. He also proved quite talkative. He told me that before getting into sports, he barely dared speak to strangers and feared their gazes. Now, he said, he’s completely transformed—he feels no different from anyone else.
Witnessing Wang Xian’s efforts, his fellow cyclists are deeply moved and proud. Zhang Hao, a cyclist who’s known Wang for three years, said they all love riding alongside this armless rider. In their eyes, Wang is hardworking and never gives up—his spirit often moves them deeply.
Today, while working at the bike shop, Wang Xian keeps up his daily training. Looking ahead, he is full of confidence. He has set a goal to win three more gold medals at the 9th National Paralympic Games. “Fate is in our own hands. Only by giving it your all will you find that dreams aren’t so far out of reach. I also hope more friends with disabilities won’t shut themselves away—they must engage with society. Only by stepping out can you realize your own worth,” he said.