Jin Jing – Wheelchair-bound Olympic torchbearer Jin Jing, seen in pictures and video below, became a Chinese hero for defending the Olympic torch in Paris from Free Tibet protestors who sought to extinguish the torch.
27-year old Paralympic fencer Jin Jing received a hero’s welcome upon her return to Beijing on Wednesday for her valiant efforts to protect the torch amid the chaotic protests in Paris.
Jin has been dubbed “Smiling Angel in Wheelchair” and the “Most Beautiful Torchbearer” by Chinese media after news footage seen in the video below showed her courage as she struggled to hold onto the torch as protestors overwhelmed police.
Several protestors who got past police threw themselves at Jin and her two companions, including one who is a blind athlete. In the photos, Jin Jing appears a little scared in her wheelchair, but looks focused on protecting the torch from the pro-Tibetan separatists.
“My first instinctive react was to protect the torch,” Jin told Xinhua News Agency, adding that her chin and shoulders were scratched and her right leg bruised, but she refused to give the torch away.
“I felt no pain from the scratches and injury on my right leg,” she said. “I only wanted to protect the torch.”
“I don’t think I did any great things,” Jin Jing added. “Any Chinese and Olympics-loving torchbearers would protect the torch under such circumstances.”
Jin Jing lost her lower right leg to cancer at age 9, but later became a Paralympics fencer who won silver and bronze medals at the 2002 Far East and South Pacific Games. She lives with her parents in Shanghai.
And that’s the latest news on China’s Olympic torch hero Jin Jing.
Tags: jin jing, olympic torch
April 12th, 2008 at 4:56 am
To the protestors:
=============
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take the speck out of your own eye,” when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Luke 6:41, 42)
As an overseas Chinese, I am proud that the Chinese people throughout history even in several periods of its Golden Age of expansion and prosperity have always respected and preserved the cultures and existence of its weaker neighbours and its own indigenous minorities without resorting to the use of force, persecution and genocidal policies in destroying whole cultures, traditions and native peoples unlike the Western Powers.
Tibet in every aspect is a free autonomous region with its own culture and traditions preserved. The fact that the Tibetans are free to express themselves is a living testimony of their freedom and very existence.
Where are the native voices of dissent from the lands annexed by the West? Pacified or more appropriately the dead speak none?
Jin Jing, be proud that you behave in a dignified manner worthy of the respect and admiration of not only the Chinese people but civilised peoples of the world. You symbolise the Spirit of Goodwill, Peace and Unity of the Olympics. God bless all who cherish this Spirit.
lindaochun
April 14th, 2008 at 1:14 am
Some country will attacked other countries while there are so many opposite countries even his own citizens! But now this country said China is a country without human rights! What a foolish behavior! When you attack others you have a quillet, when you block others’ good things you also have quillet all the same ! Maybe you are special country that have special rights! If it is really like this why you can’t settle your own inflation? For you, maybe the God also have no word to say !
April 14th, 2008 at 1:41 am
PRC need not worry about this minor nuisance. Even if CCP carries another Great Leap Forward (this time around in Tibet), we would continue to buy chinese goods, gamble in Macao, take photographs on Great Wall and aspire to speak Mandarin.
After all, might is right.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:31 am
The recent anti China protests have disgust me. A majority of Western participants who are taking a pro active stance on boycotting the Olympics have no evident justifications. They believe in what they are given by their own media sources and react overzealously without confirming such information.
When England and America went through their industrial revolutions, did China interferre? no we didn’t. We as a people kept to our own business and way of life but when the age came for China to develop. A fair majority of protests are being directed at China to go green, etc. So do you see the dilema of double standards? Western countries talk about being green and having high moral standards and they want to force other countries to comply. Sound familiar? America tends to stick its nose where it doesn’t belong and for that its failures are evident.
As for the olympic torch grabbing. How can you call youself a man for attacking a woman in a wheel chair? For that you have angered the Chinese nation. And for that you will pay. It maybe today or tomorrow but what comes around goes around.
“What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others” Confucius.
April 17th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Jin Jing has won my admiration not only for defending the Olympic torch (and I admire her all the more for this because of her disability) but also because she is so beautiful and has such a lovely smile.
April 17th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Jin Jing Media Interview
Jin Jing, a Chinese Paralympic fencer who was one of the Paris torchbearers, listens questions from journalists Thursday, April 17, 2008 in Shanghai, China.
Jin in a wheelchair, famously defended the Olympic torch in Paris on April 7, says she still doesn’t know why Tibetan protesters were so angry.
Jin repeated the Chinese government’s position that Tibet has always been a part of China. She usually gets around on crutches because she doesn’t like using a wheelchair.
April 25th, 2008 at 6:02 am
[...] torchbearer, became a Chinese heroine by protecting the torch from pro-Tibetan protestors in Paris.http://a11news.com/10/jin-jing/Wheelchairs Electric Mobility Scooters Electric Wheelchairs …Mobility scooters, lift chairs, [...]
May 16th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
I was the first to comment here, why was it deleted? I simply pointed out that the woman (not girl – that term is so patronising) was not hurt at all. The protesters were clearly going for the torch & not intending any harm.
If there were any scratches, why are there no photos? If they existed, would they not be published in graphic detail?
And yet Chinese media has latched onto this and exaggerated it beyond any semblance of reality – so that you can all wallow in self pity. This just results in more resentment and polarised views – a distraction from the barbaric repression occurring in Tibet and throughout China right now.
The Chinese people desperately need to somehow get rid of their leadership who continually fail them. The people have suffered enough, and for far too long at their foolish hands. And looking at Chinese history, I really do feel sympathy for Chinese people.
But I will not tolerate people wallowing in self pity over this piece of sensationalised trivia. She was not hurt at all. I understand it hurts Chinese pride to hear these views, but time to grow up.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Move on Sam. Because pro-Chinese discussion doesn’t sell in the west you’ll never hear it. Attempting to take advantage of a blind man and a one legged woman is indefensible.
Why are there no photos of the scratches on her face? Why are there no pictures of the protesters making contact with Jin Jing? There’s photographers everywhere. Where did Diana die? Was it in France? Was it in Paris? Was it being hounded by packs of western media. Don’t forget you’re being selectively served your news by these same people. There’s probably photos but the west doesn’t want to see a poor Chinese girl getting attacked by the groups it champions.
August 12th, 2008 at 2:37 am
It is very wrong to attack disabled young woman in a wheelchair, for any reason. I would hope that is a universal principle of conduct. Those who planned the protest have hurt their cause, and now appear ridiculous. No doubt those who run the media in China are delighted with the outcome.
Long life to you, Jin Jing!
April 22nd, 2009 at 1:38 am
hop along now little girl. your 15 minutes of fame are over…
December 19th, 2009 at 10:33 am
i agree with you rick! it is very wrong to attack disabled woman. There should be a law about this issue. I salute you girl!
June 17th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
hi!! Everybody !!! .. nice post .! ..