On the evening of 28 October 2023, in Hangzhou, the 4th Asian Para Games drew to a successful close.
During the competition, Yang Hong, a student from the Qiandongnan Branch School of Guizhou Open University, achieved remarkable success, securing 3 gold medals and 1 bronze medal, and breaking a Games record. Yang Guanglong, another talented student from the same school, also made an impressive showing, winning 1 gold medal and 4 silver medals, setting new records both for the Games and in Asia.
Yang Hong, born in 2000 and a student in the 2022 Autumn Administration Class (a three-year programme) at the Qiandongnan Branch School of Guizhou Open University, hails from Shibing County in the Qiandongnan Prefecture. Tragically, he lost both arms in an electric shock accident at the age of ten. In 2012, Yang Hong began participating in swimming training and was subsequently selected for the Guizhou Province para-swimming team.
At the 4th Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, Yang Hong delivered an outstanding performance in the swimming pool, securing the gold medal in the Men's 100m backstroke (S6) final and setting a new Para Games record for the event with a time of 1: 14.67. Furthermore, he also triumphed in the Men's 200m individual medley and 100m breaststroke, adding two more gold medals to his tally, and earned a bronze in the 50m butterfly event.
Yang Hong (middle) receives a medal
In 2016, Yang Hong was selected for the National Team and won a bronze medal in the Men’s 100m breaststroke, SB7 category, at the Rio Paralympic Games. At the 2019 World Para Championships, he secured second place in the Men’s 100m backstroke (S6) and third in the Men’s 100m breaststroke (S6). At the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships, he triumphed by ranking first in the Men’s 100m backstroke (S6).
On 25th October, Yang Hong (right first) in a race
Yang Guanglong, born in 1996, is a student in the 2022 Autumn Administration Class (a three-year program) at the Qiandongnan Branch School of Guizhou Open University. He hails from Da Bao Village in Bibo Town, Kaili City, located in the Qiandongnan Prefecture. Yang lost his left arm in an accident at the age of 5. At 13, he began swimming and subsequently joined the Qiandongnan Prefecture para-swimming team. Owing to his exceptional talent, Yang advanced to the Guizhou Province para-athletic team, where he has developed into an outstanding swimmer.
In the Mixed 4x100m Freestyle Relay 34 Pts, Yang Guanglong secured the gold medal with a time of 4:12.71, setting new Games and Asian records for the event. Additionally, he earned four silver medals in the Men's 400m freestyle, 200m medley, 100m freestyle, and 100m breaststroke events in the S8 category.
Yang Guanglong takes a photo after receiving medals
After being selected for the National Team, Yang Guanglong, renowned for his prowess in the 100m butterfly and 100m breaststroke, made a splash at the 2016 Paralympic Games where he clinched 1 bronze medal. His success continued with 3 gold and 4 silver medals at the 2018 Jakarta Para Games, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal at the 2019 London World Para-swimming Championships, and 2 bronze medals at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.
Yang Guanglong in a race
Reprinted from Outstanding Youth by OUC News Network