The 2025 Paracanoe World Championships were held in Milan, Italy, from Aug 20 to 24. Cai Yuqingyan, an athlete from Lishui, won third place in the women's VL3 200-meter canoe event. She also finished 10th in the women's KL3 200-meter kayak event.

Cai Yuqingyan claims bronze at the 2025 Paracanoe World Championships in Milan, Italy. [Photo/WeChat account: lsnews]

Born in 1995 in Liandu district of Lishui, Zhejiang province, Cai lost her right leg in a traffic accident at just 27 months old. At age 14, she was selected for the Chinese national para swimming team, becoming Lishui's first athlete to compete in the Paralympics.

She won one gold and two silver medals at the 2010 Asian Para Games, breaking Asian records and claiming the first gold for the Chinese team.

An athlete at heart, Cai transitioned from swimming to kayaking in 2015, and despite the late start, quickly rose to the world's top eight within a year.

In 2018, she finished fifth at the Paracanoe World Championships and later earned gold and silver medals at national and provincial competitions.

After giving birth in 2021, Cai returned to competition and won two gold medals at the 11th National Para Games.

In May this year, she won two gold medals at the National Paracanoe Championships.