He Junquan is a

Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of va ...

swimmer Swimming is an individual or team racing sport that requires the use of one's entire body to move through water. The sport takes place in pools or open water (e.g., in a sea or lake). Competitive swimming is one of the most popular Olympic ...

and multiple

Paralympic The Paralympic Games or Paralympics, also known as the ''Games of the Paralympiad'', is a periodic series of international multisport events involving athletes with a range of physical disabilities, including impaired muscle power and impaire ...

gold medallist. He represented China at the

2000 Summer Paralympics The 2000 Summer Paralympic Games or the XI Summer Paralympics were held in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, between 18 and 29 October. The Sydney Paralympics was last time that the Summer Paralympics which were organized by two different ...

, winning a bronze medal, a gold and a silver. Competing again at the 2004 Paralympics, he won four gold medals. He is representing China again at the

2008 Summer Paralympics The 2008 Summer Paralympic Games (), the 13th Summer Paralympic Games, took place in Beijing, China from September 6 to 17, 2008. As with the 2008 Summer Olympics, equestrian events were held in Hong Kong and sailing events in Qingdao. It was ...

. In his favorite event, the 50 m backstroke, he earned a silver, "outtouched" 0.15 seconds by Brazilian Daniel Dias. His first gold came in 4X50m freestyle where China set a world record with a time of 2 mins 18.15 secs. A second world record and gold followed in the Men's 4 x 50m Medley 20pts. He also competed at the

2012 Summer Paralympics The 2012 Summer Paralympics, branded as the London 2012 Paralympic Games, were an international multi-sport parasports event held from 29 August to 9 September 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. They were the 14th Summer Paralympic Gam ...

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, winning a second silver in the 50m backstroke S5, and later a bronze in the 50m butterfly S5. He Junquan has no arms. He has stated that, having to hit the edge of the pool with his head to stop the chronometre, he frequently scratches his scalp and hurts his back and neck. Reporting on the competition at the 2008 Games, Will Swanton of the ''

Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper i ...

'' wrote: :''"The Water Cube has been a sight for sore eyes. China's He Junquan, with no arms, was leading the 50m backstroke final. He approached the wall with a narrow lead. Every person in the stadium who had feet was on them. There was an almighty din, red Chinese flags everywhere. He came to the finish - and had to crash into the wall with his head. As He slowed down to lessen the impact, Brazilian

Daniel Dias Daniel de Faria Dias (born 24 May 1988) is a Brazilian Paralympic swimmer. Having learnt to swim in 2004 after being inspired by Clodoaldo Silva at the 2004 Summer Paralympics, he entered his first international competition two years later winni ...

hit the wall first with an outstretched hand. You've never heard a silence like it.'' :''Presented with his silver medal and flowers at the presentation ceremony, He put the flowers between his teeth and bowed."''"Dwarfs rule the pool"
''Sydney Morning Herald'', September 10, 2008

References

External links

* Paralympic swimmers for China Swimmers at the 2000 Summer Paralympics Swimmers at the 2004 Summer Paralympics Swimmers at the 2008 Summer Paralympics Paralympic gold medalists for China Paralympic silver medalists for China Paralympic bronze medalists for China Living people World record holders in paralympic swimming Chinese amputees Medalists at the 2000 Summer Paralympics Medalists at the 2004 Summer Paralympics Medalists at the 2008 Summer Paralympics Medalists at the 2012 Summer Paralympics S5-classified para swimmers Year of birth missing (living people) Paralympic medalists in swimming Chinese male backstroke swimmers Chinese male butterfly swimmers 21st-century Chinese people {{PRChina-Paralympic-medalist-stub