Zheng Tao (swimmer)

Zheng Tao (Chinese: 郑涛, born 25 December 1990) is a Chinese para swimmer and five-time Paralympic champion. He is known as the "armless swimmer".[2] He made a world record by winning 4 gold medals in Tokyo 2020 Paralympic.

In this Chinese name, the family name is Zheng.
Zheng Tao
Personal information
Nickname(s)armless swimmer
National team China
Born (1990-12-25) 25 December 1990
Kunming City
Spouse(s)Yang Meili[1]
Other interestsFishing
Sport
SportSwimming
DisabilityLimb deficiency (Acquired)
Disability classS5/SB6/SM5
ClubYunnan Province [Kunming, CHN]
Coached byZhang, Honghu
Medal record
Men's Paralympic swimming
Representing  China
Summer Paralympics
Gold medal – first place2012 London100 m backstroke S6
Gold medal – first place2016 Rio de Janeiro100 m backstroke S6
Gold medal – first place2020 Tokyo 50 m butterfly S5
Gold medal – first place2020 Tokyo 50m backstroke S5
Gold medal – first place2020 Tokyo 50m freestyle S5
Gold medal – first place2020 Tokyo Mixed 4 × 50 m freestyle relay 20pts
Silver medal – second place2016 Rio de Janeiro50 m butterfly S6
Bronze medal – third place2012 London50 m freestyle S6
Bronze medal – third place2012 London200 m ind. medley SM6
IPC Swimming World Championships
Gold medal – first place2013 Montreal 50m Butterfly S6
Gold medal – first place2013 Montreal 100m Backstroke S6
Gold medal – first place2015 Glasgow 50m Butterfly S6
Gold medal – first place2015 Glasgow 100m Backstroke S6
Silver medal – second place2013 Montreal 50m Freestyle S6
Silver medal – second place2015 Glasgow 50m Freestyle S6

Early life

Zheng lost his arms due to an electric shock when he was a child.[1]

Swimming career

In 2004 Zheng took up the sport of Swimming and in 2010 he made his international swimming debut when Zheng represented China at the World Championships in Eindhoven, Netherlands.[1]

Zheng competed in his first Paralympic Games at the 2012 London Paralympics, where he won the gold medal in a close race in the 100m backstroke S6 final.[2]

At the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, he suffered a lower back injury but still won the gold medal at the Men's 100 metre backstroke S6 event with a world record of 1:10.84, two seconds faster than the previous record, which was established by himself in 2015.[2] He then caught the stomach flu on the day of the 50-metre butterfly S6 final, and lost to his teammate Xu Qing, winning a silver medal in the event.[2]

At the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, he won the gold medal at the Men's Butterfly S5 event with a world record of 30.62, the gold medal at the Men's Backstroke S5 event with a world record of 31.42 and the gold medal at the 50m Freestyle S5. He also won the gold medal at the Mixed 4x50m Freestyle Relay - 20 Points.

References
  1. "Swimming - ZHENG Tao - Tokyo 2020 Paralympics". Tokyo2020.org. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Retrieved 28 August 2021. Date of Birth: 25 Dec 1990, Place of birth: KUNMING
  2. Feng, Sophia (2016-12-28). "Zheng vows to only swim for pleasure in 2017". Paralympic.org. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 2019-10-31.


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