Li Chunhua Explained

Li Chunhua is a Paralympian athlete from China competing mainly in category F37-38 discus throw events.

Li was born in Haimen. At the age of four, she contracted poliomyelitis which resulted in the loss of function in her right arm and leg. Later that year her father died, and when she was six her mother abandoned her in order to remarry. Her uncle then took her in and ensured she attended school until completing primary education. After her primary school graduation, she went to live with her grandmother in Shanghai where educational opportunities were better. She began training for the Paralympics in 2001.[1] She competed in the 2004 Summer Paralympics in the shot put and discus, winning the gold medal in the F37 class discus throw.[2] Four years later she competed in the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China. She finished in fourth place in the F37-38 class discus throw, but received the bronze medal after Rebecca Chin of the United Kingdom, who had initially taken second place, was removed from the standings due to protests from the Australian delegation over Chin's classification.[3] [4] She married after the 2008 Paralympics, and then retired from sport to focus on raising her daughter.[1]

Notes and References

  1. News: https://kknews.cc/zh-hk/story/m3b2459.html. zh:專訪李春花. Exclusive interview with Li Chunhua. KK News. 1 January 2016. 22 August 2017.
  2. News: http://sports.sohu.com/20040920/n222143175.shtml. zh:图文:残奥会瞬间 李春花夺得女子铁饼F37金牌. Photo: A moment at the Paralympics, Li Chunhua takes gold in women's F37 discus. Sohu Sports. 20 September 2004. 21 August 2017.
  3. News: Old Dart rivalry takes new twist after snubbing. Will. Swanton. The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 September 2008. 22 August 2017.
  4. News: http://sports.sohu.com/20080914/n259554368.shtml. zh:女子铁饼F37/38:中国米娜夺金 李春花无缘奖牌. Women's discus F37/38: Mi Na of China takes gold, Li Chunhua misses out on medals. Sohu Sports. 14 September 2008. 21 August 2017.