The girl with the world at her feet

If Wen Xiaoyan reflects on her journey at the Paris Paralympics, it must feel like deja vu, over and over again.

Competing in four events, Wen captured gold in each, setting new Paralympic records along the way. Amid thunderous cheers at the Stade de France, her signature crescent-shaped smile and the dimple on her cheek became familiar sights on the podium.

The first day of competition saw rain in Paris, leaving the stadium's purple track damp. But that didn't hinder Wen, who cruised to victory in the women's 200m T37 final, falling just 0.11 seconds short of her own world record.

In the following days, clear skies and sunshine returned to Paris.

However, on the morning of the women's 100m T37 final, the heavens opened once again and the temperature dropped — eerily reminiscent of the earlier conditions. Yet, once more, Wen surged ahead, crossing the finish line with a commanding lead and setting another Paralympic record.

The downpour did nothing to diminish the energy of the spectators, whose loud cheers spurred Wen on. "The atmosphere in France is incredible. I didn't want to let down a single smiling face in the crowd," she said.

Wen also praised the stadium's purple track. "It's such a soothing color — not too harsh, but soft and powerful at the same time," she said. "Running on it makes you feel relaxed, even in a high-stakes race.

"I think this purple track has a little bit of magic," she added.

Holding world records in the 100m T37, 200m T37, and long jump T37, Wen dominated all three events in Paris.

In the long jump, although her final leap was disqualified due to a foul, it unofficially surpassed her previous world record.

She also redeemed herself after her relay disqualification in Tokyo by helping the Chinese team win gold in the mixed 4x100m universal relay. And, with the team clocking in at 45.07 seconds, she added another world record to her collection — the perfect end to her stellar Paris performance.

"Tokyo's disappointment fueled my drive to keep pushing forward," she said.

"In our relay team, I had the slowest time, so my goal was to pass the baton smoothly and give my teammates as much of an advantage as possible. Running curves has never been my strength, so over the past few years, I've dedicated a lot of training to perfecting it."

For Wen, the Paralympics aren't just about gold medals. "Participating in the Paralympics is about realizing my own personal value and showcasing the progress of China's Paralympic sports," she said.

Beyond the gold medals and accolades, the Paralympics brought Wen something unexpected: a close friendship with American athlete Jaleen Roberts, her fellow competitor and fierce rival in the women's long jump T37. Wen claimed gold, Roberts took silver, and the two became unlikely friends.

"We're only a year apart in age, and compete in the same category. We first met at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships in London," Wen recalled.

The pair reunited at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021, where Roberts struggled during the long jump final. Wen, ever the motivator, approached her and said: "Relax, reset, give it another go!" Roberts rallied, securing the silver medal. Since then, every time they meet, Roberts greets her with a warm embrace.

Three years later, at the Paris Paralympics, their friendship has deepened.