Tang Xuemei

Tang Xuemei is a Chinese sitting volleyball player who competes in international volleyball competitions. She was part of the Chinese sitting volleyball team who won gold at the 2012 Summer Paralympics as well as winning two consecutive silver medals at the 2020 and 2024 Summer Paralympics.

Earthquake survivor

On 12 May 2008, fourteen year old Tang was in her school's dormitory in Wenchuan when the earthquake struck and the building began to shake violently. Tang started running but the floor underneath collapsed and she fell into a void. Tang's left leg was pinned down while her right leg was free, she survived from the building's collapse because she had a bowl on her head and a nearby wall did not fall on top of her. Tang was found and rescued 28 hours after the earthquake but her left leg was amputated.