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Super mums raise bar,inspire Games dreamBy Chen Xiangfeng (China Daily)Updated: 2006-10-25 14:31Two weeks after giving birth to a baby girl, the world's strongest woman resumed pumping iron in training for the national weightlifting titles. The following month the multiple world-record holder was again crowned national champion.
Li, and team-mate Bian Jianxin, are both super mums but there is something else that makes their super efforts even more extraordinary. They both are unable to walk. Despite their handicaps, they have used their strong arms and unbreakable spirit to lift high world titles and rewrite the record books over the past 13 years. These amazing sportswomen are determined to power on until 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. Li especially wants to win gold as a gift to her baby girl. The paralympics and world women's weightlifting champions are both over 30 and are both mothers, but continue to train as they gear up for the upcoming Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled. As they train at the Tianjin Institute of Physical Education, the national training base for the disabled weightlifters, their focus is on the 2008 Games. "We are not normal people. We cannot walk. But standing on the top of the podium is a way to realize my value," said Li, gold medal champions in both Sydney and the Athens Games. Li, 35, has broken the world record 25 times and is still able to keep on top form even after giving birth to a girl early this year. "Proper training is very important for me. In the past, we were too much focused on the intensity, but did not get the best results due to injuries," she said. According to the women's team head coach Li Weipu, Li stayed in the training base nine days before her baby was born and resumed training just two weeks after giving the birth. She put on a much more impressive performance in South Korea in May. At the world championships for disabled people, Li lifted the 165 kg weight and won an undisputed title. "I am sure her arms are the most strongest in the world's women athletes. Even those athletes, who have no physical problems cannot achieve this," her coach said. The coach was also full of praise for Bian, who he said was the dominant force in the women's weightlifting. "Bian is the first women's world champion in the weightlifting," he said. "I coached her when she was 19. She has a spirit of never-say-die and also keeps upbeat of life and career. In her career so far, she is almost unbeatable." Bian, 32, has won 13 major international titles and also appointed the image ambassador during China's bid for the 2008 Beijing Games thanks to her contribution to China's disabled sport. "I witnessed the two veteran athletes growing from a girl to a mother. Life used to be difficult for them, but they overcame setback and agony," said the coach. "There are the good examples for all disabled person. As long as you are mentally strong, you can live a wonderful life as normal people." Now, the national weightlifting team has 32 male and female athletes, among whom, six are Paralympic champions and over 30-year-old. While for Li and Bian, winning at the Beijing Games will be more than just an athletic achievement. "We have children and life is different. We hope to win gold medals in Beijing. It will be the best gift for our children," Li said.
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