'Wheelchair doctor' offers a sporting chance

Athletes typically wait in a nearby lounge while Zhu works, then test their wheelchairs once he's done. If further tweaks are needed, Zhu does them on the spot.

"Some athletes have their own ideas about how their wheelchairs should be fine-tuned, and some have even customized them in ways that don't follow standard manufacturing practices," Zhu explains. "These cases are more challenging because I need to figure out the logic behind their modifications and make adjustments that align with their thinking."

Zhu describes how each technician on the team brings their own expertise — some specialize in sewing, others in welding. Some focus on wheelchairs, while others repair prosthesis.

"Many of the technicians from other countries have years of experience and a deep understanding of wheelchair repair," Zhu says. "It's a rare and valuable opportunity to work alongside them."

In the Paralympic Village, Zhu sometimes found himself going beyond his official duties. When a motorized suitcase that an athlete was using for mobility wouldn't charge, even though it wasn't his responsibility, Zhu stepped in to help solve the problem.

He could sense the athletes' appreciation after fixing their wheelchairs, their gratitude unmistakable in their eyes. Some even gave him pins as mementos, tokens of thanks for his help.

At this year's Paris Paralympics, Zhu's work extended beyond the Paralympic Village. He provided on-site support at the table tennis and wheelchair tennis venues, marking his third stint as a technician at the Games — and his first at a Summer Paralympics.

Zhu's journey began in 2018, when he was selected as one of two Chinese technicians for wheelchair maintenance at the Pyeongchang Winter Paralympics. He returned for the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympics, and by the time Paris rolled around, his expertise earned him an invitation to join the technician team once again.

"The Summer Paralympics are busier, with more events and athletes, and a greater variety of wheelchairs," Zhu says. He explains that wheelchairs differ depending on the sport, requiring specific repairs based on how they're used.

"For example, wheelchair basketball is intense, so there's a lot of wear and tear from collisions. On the other hand, some swimmers' wheelchairs take more damage from constant exposure to poolside conditions," Zhu says.

When working on the battered wheelchairs of basketball players, Zhu could feel the intensity of the competition, with every dent and scrape telling a story of the physicality on the court.