At the 2008 Paralympic Games, Zhang became the hero of his home Chinese crowd when he won four gold medals on the track. He became known in China as ‘Gold Digger’ after his victories in the T54 400 metres, 200 metres, 4x100 metres relay and 4x400 metres relay. Zhang Lixin, who had been keen on sports since his early years, took up wheelchair racing in 2002 after his left leg was amputated following bone cancer.
