Tang Qian competes in the men's 400m freestyle S6 final at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games, Hangzhou, China, October 27, 2023. / IC Photo

Chinese swimmer Tang Qian is among the country's athletes who will be making their Paralympic debuts in Paris. Tang says he never used crutches when he was a child, and instead hopped on one leg and walked, which helped him develop good physical coordination and muscle endurance.

He was selected for the national team in 2019, but did not make China's roster for the Tokyo Paralympics. Tang represented the country for the first time at last year's Hangzhou Asian Para Games, where his efforts and perseverance paid off as he clinched a gold medal while setting a new continental record in the men's 400-meter freestyle.

After his success at that event, he earned a spot on the team that will compete in Paris. Now training in Beijing, the 26-year-old says he is focused on overcoming challenges on the world stage, and hopes to achieve more success for China.