Wang Lichao jumps into the water. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

Wang Lichao, a native of Hangzhou, secured two gold medals in the men's 100m freestyle S5 final and the men's 50m butterfly S5 final, respectively, on Oct 25, delighting the local crowd.

Wang, a seasoned swimmer at the age of 30, couldn't be more satisfied with his performance at the home event.

"I finally realized my dream of winning gold here in my own city. I was born in Xiaoshan district and many of my fellow townspeople came to the venue to cheer me on, giving me extra motivation," he said.

During the interview, Wang mentioned his wife as the person he most wanted to thank.

"We just had a baby this year, and I've been in intensive training the whole time, unable to help with anything. My wife did everything alone and I'm truly grateful to her. She deserves half of the credit for my achievements."

In the pool, Wang is the formidable "armless flying fish". Out of the water, he is a man brimming with tenderness.

Not long ago, he gained significant attention due to a documentary film called Above Water.

"I hope everyone can watch Above Water, which provides a deeper insight into the daily lives of people with disabilities, their everyday training, and some details on how they interact with their families."

Wang stands on the podium. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

At the age of eight, Wang lost both his arms due to an accidental encounter with a transformer. He began learning how to swim in 2007 at the age of 14. He recalled his fear when he first stood in front of the swimming pool, with his legs trembling, and how he struggled in the water. However, he gradually discovered that if he controlled his fear and didn't resist the water, he could stay afloat.

With the assistance of the local Disabled Persons' Federation, Wang began to learn how to swim. Eight years later, he stepped onto the world stage at the Croatia Open. At the 2016 Rio Paralympics, he secured his first Paralympic bronze medal in the S6 category 50m butterfly. In the Tokyo Paralympics, Wang not only claimed three medals in the S5 category butterfly along with his teammates, but also earned a silver medal in the 100m freestyle, which is not his strongest event.

Wang mentioned that after the Hangzhou Asian Para Games, he plans to reunite with his family, take a break, and then resume training for the Paris Paralympics. Hangzhou's swimming hero will continue to make waves on the world stage.