Jin Jing’s back home in Shanghai!
(BEIJING, April 13) — Quite possibly the most talked-about torchbearer at the moment is a young, slender Chinese woman who used her own body to protect the sacred flame during its journey in Paris.
Jin Jing, a 27-year-old Paralympic athlete, was lunged at while she carried the Olympic torch along its route in France. Without hesitation, she guarded the flame with great valor, making her a heroine in many people’s eyes.
After her hectic journey, Jin faced a chaotic scene upon her arrival back in Shanghai on April 13. Reporters and fans alike all wanted a look at and a word with the “smiling angel in a wheelchair.” When asked about her actions in the French capital, Jin modestly answered, “I just did what any torchbearer would do.”
When Jin was nine, doctors found a malignant tumor in her right ankle, which led to the amputation of part of her leg. She later returned to school after a year of chemotherapy. Jin successfully battled her cancer and became a member of the Shanghai Wheelchair Fencing Team in 2001.
Behind Jin stands a loving and supportive mother, Liu Huayao, who was present at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport to receive her daughter. Amidst the excited throngs of admirers who also waited anxiously to welcome the shining star, the duo spoke to each other using the most efficient means of communication: eye contact.
