A record number of women are set to compete at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games across 18 iconic Parisian venues as a historic summer in the French capital continues to provide an abundance of memorable sporting moments. 

One of them will be sensational swimmer Zhang Xiaotong who missed the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021 due to her deteriorating condition at the time. 

While securing a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games Zhang Xiaotong set a new world record of 1:23.02 in the Women's 100m Breaststroke (SB11).

She had another gold medal and a new world record in her sights for Tokyo in 2021 but was then diagnosed with neovascular glaucoma (NVG). Intent on still competing after four years of preparations, doctors advised her to stop training and protect her eyes due to the potential threat of complete blindness. 

Two months before the Paralympic Games began in Tokyo her condition got so bad that she was forced to withdraw and despite undergoing surgery she sadly lost her vision. 

Showing immeasurable resilience, Ziatong's determination persevered and her hardships failed to dent her ambition to compete in another Paralympics. 

She began training for the next Paralympics with headphones that allowed her to hear her coach's instructions and last year at the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou she was part of a Chinese ensemble which surpassed the record number of golds at a single Asian Para Games as she strove to two gold, three silver and one bronze medal

"My performance at the Asian Para Games last year was impressive, and I'm content with my achievements," Zhang told China Media Group. "So as I head to the Paris Paralympics this time, I hope to once again unleash my top form, and contend for a spot on the podium."