One-armed Paralympian to become China’s first sailor to take on solo around-the-world race
Xu, who competed in the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing and set a national record at the world championships, is set for his toughest challenge
Paralympian Xu Jingkun, who lost his left arm at the age of 12, will become the first Chinese sailor to take part in the solo, non-stop around-the-world race, Vendee Globe, on Sunday.
Xu competed in the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing, where he finished 10th, and almost 10 years later, he set a Chinese record at the World Championships.
In 2017 became the first Chinese sailor to circumnavigate alongside his wife Sofia, but is now set to embark on the most arduous challenge of his sporting career.
“It is the feeling of a dream coming true,” Xu said of competing in the Vendee Globe. “I had to work hard for 18 years to be on the starting line.
“After more than 6,000 days and nights, being able to transform my former ‘so-called madness’ into reality is an incredible feeling.”
Xu lost his arm in a firework accident, but it was this incident that led to his taking up sailing.
