WHEELCHAIR WARRIOR: Synonymous with bravery, Sang Lan welcomes all challenges, including an interview with Yao Ming

Former gymnast Sang Lan, 27, has long been the darling of Chinese sports fans. When fate dealt her a cruel blow 10 years ago, those same fans commiserated with her and today take strength from her courage.

As a member of China's National Gymnastics Team, Sang was permanently disabled during a training accident. It put an end to her illustrious gymnastics career and shattered her dreams of becoming a champion.

Indomitable spirit

But Sang's indomitable spirit was not doused for long. The former gymnast has made a remarkable comeback to the sports scene, though not as a participant. This time she works as a guest reporter. Despite being confined to a wheelchair, she has already interviewed almost all of China's Olympic champions for Asian Satellite TV channel where she is a program host.

Sang told Beijing Review that what happened in the United States on the evening of July 21, 1998 remains fresh in her memory. She was taking part in a crucial competition. Winning would mean a place in the World Gymnastics Championships the next year in Tianjin. It was the first world gymnastics event to be held in China.

At the New York Goodwill Games, Sang was doing warm-up exercises before the horse-vault final, totally unaware of the nightmare awaiting her. As she ran toward the vault and commenced her leap, she was momentarily distracted by a foreign coach removing the mat at the other side of the vault. The next moments were a blur and she remembers slumping to the ground with her head in pain.

Her first thoughts were to dress the wound and resume training, but the 17-year-old girl was yet to realize that her championship dream was over and her life had changed forever.

After waking up, Sang found herself lying on a sickbed, with 80 percent of her body paralyzed. Surprisingly she wasn't crushed by her condition, and remained positive. "Sang was very brave, and never blamed fate. The only word that can match her recovery was miracle," her doctor-in-charge said.

Sang said she had never regretted being a gymnast despite the tragedy and vowed to maintain her self-confidence.

"I was brought back to life from the brink of death. It therefore feels like a rebirth," Sang told Beijing Review.

In January 1999, Sang returned to the United States in a wheelchair. She was invited to host the lighting ceremony for the Empire State Building. Then U.S. Vice President Al Gore paid high tribute to her courage and unyielding faith, something that moved many Americans.

Today in Sang's home still hang many pictures of her and a string of celebrities, including singer Celine Dion, movie star Leonardo DiCaprio and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. "They have all encouraged me to pull through. I can't be more grateful to them," said Sang.

Helping others

Her new life did not come easy. During the past years, she has had to endure painful hardships unimaginable to others. Every day, she faces fresh battles with her paralyzed fingers, most parts of her body that can't be felt, as well as her atrophying shank muscles. "I like challenges, and have grown accustomed to living on my own," she said.

Sang derives much of her inspiration from Christopher Reeve. "His injury was more critical than mine. But he never gave up, though he could not move at all," she said. "He was a great superman. Even when he couldn't be heard without a breather, he still toured the world to give lectures and raise money for charity," she added.

She has tried to follow in Reeve's footsteps, devoting herself to raising funds for China's other disabled former athletes and launching the China Athletes Fund and Olympic Star Security Fund. All the funds were donated to the Beijing Paralympics. "I can easily understand their difficulties, and want to do more for them," she said.

As reward for her dedicated efforts, Sang was honored as the image ambassador of China Sports Foundation, together with Athens Olympics gold medallist Liu Xiang and table tennis world champion Deng Yaping.

On May 12 this year, when the devastating earthquake ripped through Sichuan Province, Sang had a sleepless night. "Having personally experienced a disaster, I feel more closely connected to those affected by the quake," she said.

Sang immediately added the phone numbers and websites of charity organizations like the Red Cross Society of China on her blog. "If every visitor to my blog can extend a helping hand, the disaster victims would be relieved much of the pain," she said.

But even that was not an easy job for Sang, who has to type with a special instrument tied to her hands.

"When I entered university, I could not even write, and therefore had to learn to use a pen. But the pen usually slipped out of my cramped hands," she said. Six years ago when she became a journalism major at Peking University, she used to transcribe notes of other classmates to exercise her hands. "My classmates were all amazed at my thick notebook filled with words," she said.

During her five-year stay with the National Gymnastics Team, Sang was one of the most dedicated trainees. And her efforts paid off. She gained third place at her debut in the National Gymnastics Championships. The following years saw her ranking climb steadily, until finally she became the winner in the third year.

However, fate has left her a lot yet to achieve-world champion and Olympics gold.

"Every one dreams of the Olympics, including the disabled. They also aspire to compete with others on an equal basis. The Paralympics is an ideal stage for them to play," said Sang. "As an embodiment of the Olympic spirit, the Paralympics give everyone a chance to participate," she added.

Sang had always been proud of her special connection with the Olympics. Seven years ago she was selected one of the only two athlete image ambassadors for Beijing's bid for the Olympics. Besides this, she was one of the torchbearers for both the Athens and the Beijing Olympics. In addition, she has become the image ambassador for the campaign of the Beijing Paralympics.

Sang confessed to the inconveniences at public places like airports and hotels. "Not just me, but also my family and friends are inconvenienced," she said.

"But Beijing has made significant progress in recent years," she said. As an Olympic image ambassador, she pledged to press ahead with improving handicap-friendly facilities to help more people like herself.