Chinese track and field couple show spirit of athletes with disabilities

Global Times

1st March 2022

Chinese track and field couple show spirit of athletes with disabilities

By Global Times

"Sports gave us new lives," said Miao Mingan, a deaf Chinese track and field athlete, speaking of himself and his wife Yang Lei, a fellow deaf track and field athlete who has won more than 30 championships in the sport.

Over their more than 20-year careers, the couple from Yangzhou, East China's Jiangzu Province have had many highlights.

Miao has won 59 gold medals, while his wife has won 34 gold medals, at various national and international events including the 21st Deaflympics in 2009.

In addition to winning the gold in the 4x100 relay at the Deaflympics in 2009, that same year Miao also won the title of CCTV Sports Personality of the Year, which is often called "the Oscars" of the sports world.

Yang has also won three medals at China's national track and field tournament for athletes with disabilities, including two championships in 2004.

Both had atypical life stories before taking the top spot on the podium.

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202203/1253620.shtml