The Heroic Story of Sang Lan
Sang Lan was a young gymnast for China who suffered a spinal cord injury at the at the 1998 Goodwill Games while vault jumping. She was paralyzed from the neck down.
Before she could even read, Sang Lan began her gymnastics training. Her young life was consumed by training. She had amazing talent, skill, and potential. An Olympic medal was her ultimate dream. She made the nation team at thirteen. All her gymnastic dreams and aspirations came to an end when she was injured. She was afraid she wouldn't even walk again and spend her whole life in a wheel chair.
They replaced her damage vertebra with metal plates. The doctors said she would not walk again. But Sang Lan believed she would be cured one day. She began physical therapy and regained some movement in her arms and upper body. With the help of many people, she has found a new life, just as meaningful as gymnastics and competition. She found a soulmate, a new family, and love
Sang Lan returned to China to study journalism. She remains active in the sporting world as a proponent of the Olympic Games. She has even carried the Olympic torch.