“Even if we have such an unfortunate experience, we will still face it with a smile and work harder and bravely to pursue our dreams.”
The 2008 Sichuan earthquake of magnitude 7.9 was imprinted in China’s collective memory, not only because so many people lost their lives, but also because children and adolescents, including Tang, were particularly prominent among the victims.
The collapse of 7,000 schools killed thousands of children and triggered accusations of corruption leading to poor-quality construction. The grief quickly turned into anger.
Tang, 27, refused to answer questions about the decisive moment when the earthquake caused her school to collapse—even today, this question remains highly sensitive in China.
But in a recent interview with the official website of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), she described in detail the experience of running for her own life and the dormitory floor disappearing under her feet.
