Fu Yanlong, a physically challenged athlete, is a resident of Changlingzi Village near Songyuan City in Jilin Province.

He had long dreamed of attending university, and in September 2012 was admitted to the Special Education College of Changchun Radio and TV University (now renamed the Changchun School for the Disabled of the Open University of China (OUC), or simply the “Changchun School”) to major in Social Work. He obtained a junior-college degree in September 2015, and at the same time began undergraduate studies in the same major.

Strong despite his disability, and fighting for the glory of the country

At 15 he began training in discus, javelin and shot put, and in the 15 years since then has never given up. In the final of class F42 of the men's javelin competition at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, he won with a result of 52.79 metres, becoming the first gold-medal Paralympic Games winner from Jilin Province, and setting a new world record.

Brilliant achievements in competition

In 2006, Fu Yanlong came fifth in discus and sixth in shot put at the National Track and Field Championships for the Disabled held in Zhaoqing, Guangzhou; in 2007, he came sixth in javelin at the 7th National Paralympic Games in Yunnan; in 2010, he came third in discus and fourth in javelin at the National Track and Field Championships for the Disabled in Beijing, while that year, at the first Asian Paralympic Games in Guangzhou, he came second in javelin, fourth in discus, and seventh in shot put. In 2011, he came first in javelin, breaking the national record, second in discus, and fourth in shot put at the Eighth National Paralympic Games in Zhejiang; in 2012, he came first in javelin, breaking his own record, at the London Fourteenth Paralympic Games, and was honored with a National May 1st Labor Award and National May 4th Youth Award. He came second in javelin and fourth in discus at the Lyon World Athletics Championships in 2013; first in javelin and second in shot put and discus in the Beijing section of the World Disabled Track and Field Championships, and first in javelin and discus at the Korean Asian Paralympic Games, in 2014; and in 2015 he came second in javelin and discus at the Ninth National Games for the Disabled.

Never giving up

Ups and downs have never fazed him, and he has always managed to adapt to new situations. The training made his palms and arms numb, and he endured pain, but never gave up. His Paralympics victory in 2012 above all was a testimony to his efforts and perseverance.

This spirit lies behind the many honours he has been given. In 2012, Fuyu City gave him the May 4th Youth Award, and he also won the National May 1st Labour and National Youth May 4th awards that year. His achievements have been covered by a variety of news outlets, including a 15-minute film, "Fu Yanlong, a Disabled Athlete", broadcast by Changchun TV. In 2013, he participated in a lecture tour as part of the "Millions of Special Talents" project in Jilin Province.

By OUC Voice WeChat Official Account