Only living once, we should never give up on going after our dreams.
Most of us are fortunate to be born with a well-functioning body and surrounded by people who love us. Some people are less fortunate, but it does not have to stop them from treasuring life. We would like to take this opportunity to share the story of a disabled athlete, So Wah Wai with you. Let’s learn more about how he chases his dream.
So Wah Wai, an athlete who has won 12 medals in five Paralympic Games, has an inspirational story of not giving up on his dream. When he was born, he suffered from Jaundice, a disease which affects his hearing and balance ability. He was even diagnosed with movement disorders. When he was young, he couldn’t stand or walk. However, these problems did not affect his enthusiasm for pursuing his dream of running as an athlete.
He faced numerous challenges. Never thinking of giving up, he overcame one after another. His mother, Hon Siu Ching, gave him a lot of support. She helped him to overcome one of the challenges of movement disorder, standing up. She encouraged him and supported him throughout his tough journey. Moreover, she also discovered his talents in being an athlete.
So Wah Wai never gave up and finally succeeded with the support from his mother during the process of achieving his dream of being an athlete. His first participation in Paralympic game was in 1996 and he won a gold medal in 4x100m relay. After that, he won many more gold medals in different Paralympic games.
If So Wah Wai, a disabled man, can do it, why can’t you?
There will always be people supporting us to become to best version of ourselves. Because of that, we shouldn’t give up when we face difficulties, no matter how difficult they are to deal with. “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
Thursday, 8 May 2025