China is a wheelchair fencing powerhouse, winning 20 medals, including 11 golds at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Gang Sun helped the country top the medals table in Tokyo by claiming two golds and a silver, and he hopes to find more success at Paris 2024, which open in less than 50 days.

Sun found Paralympic success in his debut Games at Rio 2016, where he collected four medals. Sun topped the podium in the men’s individual epee category A after winning a tight battle with Great Britain’s Piers Gilliver. Sun also helped China claim gold in the men’s foil team event. 

Five years later, he helped China dominate the medals table at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

As we approach the Paris 2024 Paralympics, Sun shared his journey in Para sport and what it takes to become a Paralympic champion.

How did you take up Para sports?

I was introduced to wheelchair fencing in 2009. And it has been more than 14 years.

What do you enjoy most about wheelchair fencing?

I believe that in competitions, it’s about strategising our opponents. This allows me to engage in more reflection and gain more experiences.

What was it like to compete at the Paralympic Games for the first time?

My first Paralympic Games were in Rio 2016. When I first participated in the Paralympics, I was incredibly happy and very excited as well. 

I also hoped to achieve a good result in the competition, but at that time, I hadn’t specifically thought about which event I could excel in, or which discipline I could perform well in. I just wanted to compete in all the events. I was competing in four events – the men’s individual epee category A, the individual foil category A, men’s team epee and men’s team foil.

And finally, I got the gold medal in the men’s individual epee category A event.

What are your expectations for Paris 2024?

If I participate in the Paris 2024 Paralympics, I hope there will be an audience, which for us, is a very positive thing. Because if that’s the case, it will certainly boost our morale. They can cheer for us. Furthermore, (spectators) allow us to experience a fantastic atmosphere at the venue.

How has Para sport changed your life?

I believe that taking part in Para sport has made me feel more confident about myself. I became more outgoing and more positive.

What do you think takes to become a Paralympic champion?

This requires consistent effort in daily training, including in-house team competitions and physical fitness aspects. We need to do our best in all of these areas. It is also requires studying opponents, and lots of considering and research.

Besides training hard, what is important to find success in wheelchair fencing?

Apart from training hard, analysing and studying opponents is very important because as we train, out tactical and technical levels actually improve. 

Through the duration of our training, we have built a solid foundation in the sport. After establishing this foundation, in competitions, it is more about adaptability and analysing our opponents. This aspect is quite crucial.

Do you have any idols in Para sport?

My idol is Ye Ruyi. He is a three-time consecutive foil individual gold medallist for the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Games in the foil category A.

Discover more about wheelchair fencing and the 22 sports in the Paris 2024 Paralympic sports programme 

Book your tickets for the Paralympic Games by visiting the Paris 2024 ticketing website