Paralympic discus champion lends a helping hand to his community

On his non-training days, former Paralympic discus champion Wang Yanzhang zips around his neighbors on his electric motorbike, helping transport lockdown rations to fellow residents in Shanghai's Baoshan district.

As he has difficulty walking due to his medical condition, his wife is responsible for distributing antigen test kits, rations, and medicines to different residential buildings.

"I'm just doing what I can for my neighborhood," said the 31-year-old, who won gold in the men's discus throw at the 2012 London Paralympics and a silver medal at the men's javelin throw at 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.

Wang said he joined the volunteer team in April after he was moved by the kindness of his neighbors. There are currently about 30 volunteers serving residents in the neighborhood.

"We ran out of diapers for my 2-year-old daughter during the lockdown and our neighbors immediately offered theirs. When my grandmother had a toothache and could barely eat, the neighborhood committee was quick to help us apply for a pass to visit the hospital," he said. "What I'm doing now is simply repaying the kindness that others have shown."

Some of his neighbors have expressed concern for his welfare, but Wang insists that volunteering is nothing compared to the rigors of his intense training.

"I've also faced harsh conditions during competitions in foreign lands where I had to protect myself from the virus while adjusting to cultural differences," he added.

Looking ahead, Wang said he relishes resuming his regular training routine.