Twenty years ago, a tragic accident completely overturned the peaceful life of the “basketball girl”. However, determined not to surrender to fate, that resilient Chinese girl continued to write remarkable stories that left people amazed.
The horrifying accident from 20 years ago took away the legs of the “basketball girl”, but with impressive determination, Tien Hong Diem emerged as a shining swimming star and is regarded as the “most determined girl with disabilities”, inspiring countless individuals.
In 2005, the circumstances of the “basketball girl” deeply saddened the online community in China.
In a traffic accident that occurred in 2000, 4-year-old Tien Hong Diem, living in Luc Luong district, Khu Tuong city, Yunnan province, China, was severely injured and had to have her entire lower body amputated to survive.
The horrifying accident nearly took everything away from the innocent girl. Tien Hong Diem came from a farming family with limited economic resources, so they couldn’t afford prosthetic legs. Tien Hong Diem’s grandfather cut a basketball in half and attached it to her niece’s body to help her move. Shortly after, images of Tien Hong Diem immediately captured the attention of the Chinese public.
In 2003, Tien Hong Diem shared in an interview, “When I woke up, I felt my legs were very cold. I asked my mother to put on shoes for me, but she didn’t say anything, just tears streaming down her face. Then I realized that I would never have the chance to wear shoes again in this lifetime.”
After being discharged from the hospital, the unhealed wounds prevented the young girl from sitting for a long time and from going anywhere or taking care of herself. The once cheerful and talkative girl became quieter and more introverted.
Over the course of 5 years since the accident, this determined girl gradually adapted to her “new legs” and went through 8 basketball prosthetics.
In an interview program for people with disabilities, when asked what gift she would like most for the Lunar New Year, Tien Hong Diem replied, “I want a basketball.” In the same program, she shared her initial experiences returning to school and the heartbreaking moments of seeing her peers play freely. However, thanks to the kindness of her teachers and friends, Tien Hong Diem gradually regained her optimism. A turning point that led to the miracle of her life.
In 2007, Tien Hong Diem received her first pair of prosthetic legs for free and underwent functional recovery treatment at the Beijing Functional Recovery Research Center. During this time, fate seemed to smile upon the young girl.
With encouragement and assistance from everyone, Tien Hong Diem was accepted into the national disabled swimming club. Coach Truong, who introduced her to this sport, stated, “Tien Hong Diem has great potential for swimming. Because she uses her upper body throughout the year, her arm and abdominal muscles are more flexible than those of regular people, making her well-suited for swimming.” Initially, the lack of lower body posed many difficulties for Tien Hong Diem’s swimming, as she couldn’t float or move in the water.
“It seemed like there was no way for me to breathe in the water; I always felt suffocated.” – Hong Diem shared.
However, with strong determination and a passionate heart, Tien Hong Diem tirelessly practiced, swimming 10,000 meters each day for about 4 hours. To become an athlete, she had to put in much more effort than others.
After undergoing relentless training, Tien Hong Diem became a promising disabled swimmer, a shining star representing China in various sports events for disabled individuals. Her extraordinary efforts beyond her disabilities garnered admiration and respect. How has the basketball girl, who had her lower body amputated, lived through the years that millions of people were once heartbroken for? – Photo 6. The coach teaching Hong Diem to swim.
However, she faced a major shock when her grandfather suddenly passed away just before the Paralympic qualifiers in 2011. This greatly affected Hong Diem’s competitive spirit, and she only managed to secure a silver medal, failing to proceed to the next round.
The pressure of not being able to meet the expectations of fans led Tien Hong Diem to return to her hometown. She admitted that being famous too early brought her many opportunities but also considerable pressure.
After adjusting her mindset for 3 years, in September 2014, the “basketball girl” returned and won the championship at the 2014 Paralympics in the 100m breaststroke category. When asked why she loved and decided to stick with swimming, Hong Diem said, “After school hours, other kids can run and play, but I can’t. However, when I’m in the swimming pool, I’m just like everyone else, and that’s why I love swimming.”
After 20 years of persistent effort and achieving numerous prestigious awards in swimming, by 2019, the “basketball girl” had retired and pursued her dream of becoming a coach to assist many other disabled athletes. Currently, she is an official staff member at the Disability Support Center, always offering help to others with a cheerful smile and her genuine warmth. When asked about romantic matters, Tien Hong Diem shyly replied, “I haven’t thought about it; I’m afraid I’d have to go find a boyfriend.”
“Isn’t it thanks to that accident that I have the life I have today? I think this is destiny, a part of my life that I must experience, and once I overcome it, I can turn the pain into a miracle.” – Tien Hong Diem shared.
In the battle between hope and disappointment, if you have enough courage and determination, victory will belong to hope. Life presents us with many challenges, and complaining can only ruin our lives. Face the injustices of fate with a bright smile like the “basketball girl” and turn suffering into your own “asset.”
Some images shared by Tien Hong Diem on her personal page:
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[Image attachments were not included in the original text, so they are not provided here.]