Lai Chi-wai recently received an award for accomplishing an amazing athletic feat. He scaled Lion Rock, a 495-meter (1,624-foot) mountain in Hong Kong, while in a wheelchair!
Lai is a professional rock climber who lost the use of his legs in a car accident in 2011. He pulled himself and his 26-pound wheelchair up the rock face using a series of ropes and pulleys. These simple machines are made up of a wheel with a groove to guide the rope. They make it easier to lift heavy loads.
Still, scaling the cliff was a challenge for Lai. During the final 2 meters, each inch felt like a mile, he says. But the struggle was worth it. “Sometimes, challenges are a stimulus to success,” says Lai. “They help you become stronger and more courageous.”