In a small village in Yunnan Province, a little girl named Qian Hongyan was born in 1996. No one could have predicted that this tiny baby's birth was like a grand drama arranged by the heavens, destined to make her life anything but ordinary.
In 2000, a sudden car accident brutally altered the course of her life, completely overturning her destiny. That terrible accident cruelly tore away Qian Hongyan's legs, leaving her, at just four years old, a child who spent her days frolicking in the mountains.
However, life is often unreasonable, and overnight, this little girl had to wrestle with fate. At this critical moment, her grandfather, usually quiet and unassuming, wearing his reading glasses, took a worn basketball from their home, gathered some wood and nails.
In that dimly lit little house, he hammered away vigorously, somehow fashioning a makeshift wheelchair for her. This crude wheelchair, as rustic as it sounds, was no exaggeration, but Qian Hongyan relied on this makeshift contraption made from an old basketball to literally "stand up" and roll out of the house.
The basketball, ingeniously hollowed out by her grandfather, allowed Qian Hongyan's thin body to fit inside. With two wooden handles in her small hands, she could sway back and forth, actually moving forward. The rubber of the basketball, durable and slightly elastic, allowed her to move despite the bumps, a stark contrast to lying in bed.
She made trip after trip on the dirt roads of that small village, etching indelible marks of determination. When people spoke of her, they felt heartache, but more often, they marveled at her indomitable spirit, giving her a thumbs up.
That fateful car accident took away Qian Hongyan's legs when she was only four, still a child who knew nothing of the world. This battered basketball became her constant companion in childhood, earning her the nickname "Basketball Girl" throughout the village, evoking a mixture of emotions whenever mentioned.
Qian Hongyan's parents, driven by the need to support the family, had to leave their hometown to work in big cities, leaving behind this little girl, making her one of the many left-behind children.
She and her grandfather supported each other, living hand to mouth. Although the accident took away her legs, it did not dampen her adventurous spirit; life did not knock her down.
Her grandfather adored her, constantly encouraging her, urging her not to give up, to stand tall. Under his meticulous care and continuous encouragement, she gradually adapted to using the makeshift basketball as her legs.
She managed to tame this odd basketball wheelchair, becoming a brave little knight, fearlessly charging through the bumpy road of life.
In the blink of an eye, she reached school age, but her special circumstances, lacking legs, added numerous hurdles to her educational journey.
Yet, this girl had an unwavering spirit, supported by her family and with the help of villagers, she finally fulfilled her dream of attending school, swaying through the school gates.
At school, she faced challenge after challenge, places others could reach in just a few steps required her to slowly maneuver her basketball wheelchair.
But she would never frown at these difficulties; her tenacity and perseverance were well-known. In class, her ears perked up, her eyes wide open, not missing a single word the teacher said.
Her homework was neatly written, more beautiful than anyone else's, and her test scores were always at the top, making even those with fully functional limbs feel inferior.
No matter how tough the challenge, she could grit her teeth and overcome it. Her report card was her best testament.
In 2007, Qian Hongyan stumbled upon swimming, which opened the door to a new world, showing her a vast expanse, akin to finding a lifeline.
Under the guidance of coach Zhang Honghu, she began training in this craft. Coach Zhang was skilled, transforming Qian Hongyan, a complete novice at swimming, into a capable athlete.
Qian Hongyan herself was relentless, training as if her life depended on it, spending all day in the water, splashing about like a young dolphin, full of vigor.
With this relentless drive, she dove into the 2009 National Paralympic Swimming Championships and emerged with one gold and two silver medals, dazzling everyone with her achievements.
Everyone was abuzz, discussing, "That Basketball Girl has now become a swimming champion!" Qian Hongyan's feat not only stunned the audience but also delivered a resounding slap to those who looked down on the disabled, showing them what true capability looks like.
Her swimming prowess skyrocketed, propelling her into the national team, becoming a formidable member representing China.
She competed on the grand stage of the Rio Paralympics. Although she didn't bring back a shiny gold medal, her relentless spirit earned her worldwide acclaim and a standing ovation.
Swimming gave Qian Hongyan back the confidence she had lost, transforming her from a girl who merely splashed in the water into someone with greater ambition, whose gaze extended beyond the confines of the pool.
She set her sights on studying hard, acquiring knowledge, determined to achieve something significant. Ultimately, she passed the civil service exam, becoming a civil servant dedicated to serving the disabled.
Every step of her journey, from "Basketball Girl" to swimming champion and then to civil servant, was walked with her own unique style.
Having crawled out of the hardships of being disabled herself, she intimately understood the lives of this group.
Therefore, she channeled her experiences and knowledge into helping more disabled brothers and sisters live better lives. She bustled about, participating in various public welfare activities, even personally starring in traffic safety education videos to raise awareness and prioritize safety.
Now, she is no longer the little girl who had to rely on a basketball to move around. With her resilience and determination, she has written an inspiring story that warms the blood.
On January 5th, she even posted a video of herself swimming, where she moved with the confidence and grace of a fish in the water.
Seeing her like this is truly touching; the saying "Noble is the man who strives ceaselessly," perfectly encapsulates her story.
So, how can we, with our健全 bodies, not strive? Her story has spread far and wide, inspiring countless people to understand that even if life gives you a million reasons to give up, you can find one to stand up and continue racing towards your dreams.
This tough character, who fought her way from "Basketball Girl" to civil servant, continues to weave her legend.
On the broad avenue of life, she is like an indomitable warrior, taking one step at a time, never looking back as she charges ahead, demonstrating with concrete actions what a true inspirational legend is.