The inspiring story of young athlete Tiep Ho Diem (1996), hailing from the Long Long area in Yunnan province in southwest China, has deeply touched readers worldwide. In 2000, at the age of 4, this promising basketball player suffered a tragic accident that permanently left her disabled. The impoverished family was devastated by the tragedy that had befallen their daughter.

Everyone is captivated by Tiep Ho Diem and her extraordinary determination to live.

“I woke up, feeling the coldness in my feet,” Tiep Ho Diem recalled. She requested her mother to put shoes on over the phone, but her mother remained silent, shedding tears. It was a moment she’d never forget, realizing she had lost the lower half of her body, no longer needing shoes, socks, or even pajamas.

Due to the family’s financial constraints and the inability to afford a prosthetic leg for Ho Diem, her grandfather improvised by cutting a basketball in half and fashioned a support structure using handles, allowing her to move independently. The ball aided Ho Diem in maintaining balance and served as a fulcrum when she felt fatigued. Every day, she walked to school, a journey that took nearly an hour for a distance of just 7 minutes. Over the next five years, she went through up to 8 basketballs.

In 2005, the image of a skillful 9-year-old girl moving around on a basketball spread widely, drawing both pity and admiration for her remarkable determination. The extraordinary strength of a young girl became the subject of public attention.

Fortunately, this attention led to support from sponsors across the country, and in 2007, Tiep Ho Diem received a sponsored trip to Beijing to obtain a prosthetic leg, a dream that seemed unattainable for her family. Those initial steps with prosthetic legs marked the beginning of a journey that would significantly change her fate in the years to come.

In 2007, after completing elementary school, financial constraints forced Tiep Ho Diem to put her educational pursuits on hold. Refusing to succumb to this fate, she joined the “South of Cloud” club—a national swimming club for people with disabilities.

Initially, the physical challenge of swimming with her lower body’s limitations made it extremely difficult for Tiep Ho Diem. However, with unwavering determination, she practiced diligently, swimming 10,000 meters daily for four hours. To excel as an athlete, she had to put in much more effort than others.

Through relentless training, Tiep Ho Diem emerged as a promising swimmer and a shining star representing China in disability sports competitions. Her extraordinary efforts to overcome adversity earned widespread admiration.

However, a significant setback occurred when her grandfather passed away suddenly just before the Paralympic qualifiers in 2011. This deeply affected her competitive spirit, resulting in her winning only one bronze medal and being unable to proceed to the next round.

Disheartened by the inability to meet fans’ expectations, Tiep Ho Diem returned to her hometown, acknowledging that early fame brought opportunities but also immense pressure.

After three years of emotional adjustment, in September 2014, the “basketball girl” returned and won the championship in the 100m breaststroke category at the 2014 Paralympics. When asked about her love for swimming and why she continued, Ho Diem said: “After school, other students can run and play, but I can’t. But when I’m in the swimming pool, I am the same as everyone else, and this is why I like swimming.”

After 20 years of persistent efforts and numerous prestigious awards in swimming, in 2019, the “basketball girl” retired and pursued her dream of becoming a coach to assist many athletes with disabilities.