Guizhou athlete takes crown at Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

Cai Liwen (middle) and two other Chinese athletes win medals in the S11 women's 100-meter backstroke at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. [Photo/ddcpc website]

At the S11 women's 100-meter backstroke finals, Cai Liwen from Southwest China's Guizhou province won gold with a world record of 1 minute and 13.46 seconds.

Cai was born in the city of Zunyi, Guizhou in 1998 and is one of seven Guizhou athletes at the Paralympic Games. She lost her eyesight at the age of two due to retinopathy, but visual impairment didn't stop her from swimming. She competed at a provincial disabled swimming competition at 8 years old and was selected as a professional athlete at 10.

After rigorous training, Cai started to shine at national and international games. In 2016, she won silver in the S11 women's 100-meter backstroke at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and broke China's national records several times.

In 2017, Cai won gold in the S11 women's 100-meter backstroke and the S11 women's 50 meters freestyle, and won silver in the S11 women's 400-meter freestyle at the FINA World Championships held in Mexico.

Over the next few days, Cai will continue competing in the SM11 women's 200-meter individual medley, the SB11 women's 100-meter breaststroke, and the S11 women's 100-meter freestyle in Tokyo.