“I can do all
things through Christ who strengthens me." ~ Philippians 4:13
During winter, the Khingan
Mountains of Inner Mongolia is the coldest region in China, with temperatures
dipping as low as -90°F; temps that will freeze the
blood of those who don’t wear sufficient protection. Yet an elderly man rarely
misses a day of ice skating at the outdoor rink near his home where laughter,
music, and the hissing sounds of blades fill the dangerously frigid air.
Wang Quanli (65) has quickly become one of the best amateur
skaters at the rink. People can hardly tell he's a double amputee.
The former railroad worker lost both legs 35 years earlier
in a gruesome work-related accident. It marked the beginning of some of his life’s
darkest moments. He spent 30 months in the hospital and another year crawling
at home.
He put on prosthetic legs that weighed
nearly 35 pounds each and started exercising. After much practice (and grueling
pain), he could not only walk again but ride a bicycle. Eventually, Wang gained
enough courage to attach blades to his artificial limbs, step on the ice, and try
something completely new: ice skating.
Prosthetic legs don’t limit forward
movements much. But lacking a natural ankle joint does restrict balance which
affects jumps and glide control. Not impossible – just more difficult.
It took perseverance. "I couldn't stand at the
beginning," Wang said. "I would stand, slip and drop. I can't remember how many times I fell."
As his technique improved, he found that ice skating strengthened his hip and thigh
muscles.
So, despite losing nearly a quarter of his body, and the
brutally cold temperatures, he’s now a regular at the outdoor rink. Wang grinned
as he stopped to catch his breath. "Are your feet cold? Because mine aren’t!"
he laughed.
He continued. “People will come up to me occasionally and
say: “You inspire me because I see what you're going through.” It's nice to
know that people notice, but I'm not superhuman. I'm just somebody who enjoys
life.” Then Wang added, "You won't die without legs. But you won't live
either if you give up on yourself."
After it gets warm, Wang turns to rollerblading; counting
down the days until next winter. He plans to skate until he’s at least 80 years
old. While ice skating is not currently a Paralympic sport, Wang hopes that it
will be introduced into the Games in the near future and intends to compete. “The
results won't matter. It’s more about learning skills and techniques from the
best,” he said.
