On June 6, 2008, Olympic torch arrived in Guilin, Guangxi Province of China. There are 208 relays along Guilin torch route. The 208 torch bearers consist of outstanding characters from different sectors around the nation. The torch bearer of the tenth relay is Shi Le, a local SO athlete, who is the table tennis champion of the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai.

Shi Le hands over torch

On that day, after kindled the torch, Shi held up the burning torch high while running, and waved his hands to the audiences. The scene burst out thundering applauses, “Come on, China! Come on, Olympics!” Many exciting audiences were running with Shi Le along both sides of the streets. The stable steps of Shi Le represented the elegant demeanors of SO athletes, deeply touched the audiences.

Come on, China!

As a sufferer of Down’s syndrome, Shi Le could not walk until three years old. He could only move with the support of a bed or wall. He was disabled not only in intelligence, but also in other aspects, including pronunciation; furthermore, he is handicapped in bodies. The 25-year-old Shi Le now looks like a teenager.

However, under the patient education of his families and supports of the society, Shi Le, the poor child with intellectual disabilities finally grows into an outstanding Special Olympics athlete with his love to the life and his insistent spirits.

Under the care of his mother, Xiong Jinmei, Shi Le insisted in studying while being treated from childhood. He attended various training courses, including Peizhi Class and Massage Training class; now he has passed the second level Massage Certification. He has learned to wash clothes, buy food, cook and clean floors; now he can take care of himself.

With the warm-hearted help and instruction of Shi Wei, the coach of Guiling Sports School, Shi Le grew from a stranger of table tennis to a Special Olympics athlete. In the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games, he cooperated with player from Jilin to win the gold medal of men’s double of table tennis, and he ranked fourth in men’s single. This is the first time for Jilin Province to win championship in the Special Olympics World Games.

Shi Le with another torch bearer, weight-lifting champion of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games

Several months before becoming the 2008 Olympic torch bearer, Shi Le has been insisting on running exercise with his mother’s accompaniment. His mother asked others to make a “torch” of the same weight and form as the Olympic torch, and let Shi Le to run with this torch in hand, attracting many people to applaud. As the Olympic torch bearer, Shi Le enables more people to understand the special group of Special Olympics, and understand the spirits of SO athletes –Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.