10-year-old eyes Paralympics and beyond after setting world record

Ben Yuechen, a 10-year-old Chinese boy with a single arm, achieved a surprising monumental feat by setting a Guinness World Record in August.

He completed 21 burpees in one minute, the most in the AA2 disability classification, on the sidelines of a Spartan kids race held in Chongli, North China's Hebei Province.

Though now he is a world record holder, Ben, nicknamed Youyou, told the Global Times that he is not satisfied with the result.

"Actually, I am not satisfied with the result as I believe I can do more than 30 burpees in one minute," Ben said. "If there's another chance I will for sure challenge my record."

The burpee exercise, which combines squats, jumps, and push-ups, posed a significant challenge due to his disability.

During his record attempt, Ben faced the dual challenges of maintaining balance and performing each burpee correctly.

His mental fortitude was crucial. He repeatedly encouraged himself to keep going despite the fatigue.

"I told myself not to give up because I really wanted to win," Ben said.

His mother Cai Xiumei was confident that Youyou's ability was a driving force for the successful attempt, though she admitted that Ben's high self-expectations led to a few errors during the attempt.

Born without his left forearm in Hai'an, East China's Jiangsu Province, Ben has never let his physical condition limit his ambitions, as the Guinness World Record was not the first time Ben made national headlines.

Prior to the record attempt, Ben participated in the Spartan kids race in Shanghai in April, where he completed 26 obstacles in a five-kilometer race and finished second in his age group.

This experience further fueled his passion for overcoming challenges and achieving his goals.

"I'm not worried about him getting discouraged as he loves to take on challenges," Ben's mom told the Global Times.

Skip rope challenge

At a young age, Ben's family recognized his potential and encouraged him to explore various sports to build his strength and balance. His initial challenge was learning to skip rope, a requirement for physical education classes.

Casual outdoor activities in his early childhood years slowly morphed into a focused effort to build his mental and physical endurance.

"Sports became the vehicle for teaching him about persistence," Cai said.

"It's about always pushing yourself to the next level."

Despite numerous attempts and after a video that went viral showing his persistence and struggles, Ben's efforts caught the attention of Dong Jiong, a national para-badminton team coach.

Despite the logistical challenges - such as the nearly two-hour drive from Hai'an to Nantong for training - the family's determination was unwavering.

Cai recounted the long trips and rigorous training sessions, emphasizing Ben's passion for the sport and his resilience through the hardships.

Ben had to train six hours on a weekend day to catch up with others. Now the family has relocated to downtown Nantong to make it easier for Youyou to train on weekdays instead of relying on a single weekend day of training.

Speaking about the decision to relocate, Cai said she is equally committed to her son's academic and emotional development.

"Our decision to move was not just for sports. We wanted to ensure he was in a place where he could develop all aspects of his personality," Cai said.

Additionally, Ben has a unique aspiration related to technology. His family owns a 3D printer, and Ben hopes to use it to print a prosthetic arm for himself.

This innovative goal reflects his proactive approach to overcoming physical limitations and his desire to enhance his abilities through technology.
Badminton dream

Ben started playing badminton relatively late. Moreover, in the beginning, he often finished matches with single-digit scores.

Despite initial fears and challenges, Ben embraces each opportunity to test his skills against formidable opponents.

"The more difficult it gets, the more I want to challenge myself," Ben told the Global Times, highlighting his evolving mindset.

When asked about his favorite athletes, Ben immediately named Denmark's Viktor Axelsen and China's Lin Dan.

However, he quickly noted that Malaysian player Lee Chong Wei is also great.

"Lee lost to Lin so many times, but kept going and still wanted to win. I think he is very tenacious," Ben said.

Inspired by the recent success of the Chinese para-badminton team at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, where they won nine gold medals, Ben dreams of becoming a Paralympic champion himself.

"I will keep practicing and am confident I can achieve this goal," he said, before noting that watching the Asian Para Games in person in 2023 in Hangzhou, Jiangsu's neighboring Zhejiang Province strengthened his resolve.

"When I saw a player fall down from a wheelchair during a badminton match when hitting the shuttlecock, he tried his best to recover and play. That scene still lingers in my mind and reminds me to do my best," Ben said.