Paralysis inspires Chinese man to build mind-controlled wheelchair that wins top prize
- Chris McMillan
- 10 hours ago
- 1 min read
South China Morning Post
31st July 2026
Paralysis inspires Chinese man to build mind-controlled wheelchair that wins top prize
A man from southeastern China transformed his experience with paralysis into a source of inspiration, creating a mind-controlled wheelchair prototype in just 48 hours during a technology competition.
Wang Ning, 33, and his wife from Shenzhen recently took part in a Shanghai-based Hackathon hosted by RedNote, where they earned first prize in the hardware category for their innovative design.
Originating in the US, hackathons are competitions where developers collaborate under tight deadlines to create products or prototypes from the ground up. Participants typically remain on-site throughout the event, working tirelessly, often eating and sleeping there until their projects are complete.
Wang’s journey reportedly began in 2020, when he was diagnosed with a 13-centimetre spinal cord tumour. Following two major surgeries, he endured full-body paralysis twice. At his lowest point, he could move only his eyes and suffered from intense nerve pain day and night.
During his darkest moments, Wang recounted that his wife gifted him a pair of running shoes to motivate him to keep fighting. With her unwavering support, he gradually regained the ability to stand and walk through rehabilitation.