PROFESSIONAL

WHEELCHAIR ATHLETES – WOMEN
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE FIELDS
Lihong Zou
Country: China
Age: 32
Date of Birth: February, 26, 1984
Residence: Shanghai, China
Personal Best: 1:38:44, Rio de Janeiro, BRA, 2016
New York City Marathon History: Debut
Career Highlights
2016 Rio Paralympic Marathon 1st 1:38:44
2016 Rio Paralympic 4x400m relay T53-54 1st 3:32.11
2016 Virgin Money London Marathon 5th 1:52:42
2015 IPC Athletics World Championships 800m T54 1st 55.73
2015 IPC Athletics World Championship 5000m T54 1st 12:10.62
Zou, who just switched from the track to road racing in early 2016, pulled a stunning upset
at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Marathon, beating American Tatyana McFadden in a photo finish
to capture her third medal and only individual gold in Rio. She and McFadden crossed the
finish line in identical times of 1:38:44, but Zou took the victory by a whisker, raising her arm
in victory immediately afterwards.
Zou won three golds and a silver on the track at the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships
in Doha, Qatar, winning the 800, 5000 and 4x400-meter relay and finishing second in
the 1500 meters. She won an 800-meter bronze at the London 2012 Paralympics, where she
was also fourth over 400 meters and fifth over 1500 meters.
Zou contracted polio as a child and took up para-athletics in 2009. She made her international
debut the following year, winning a gold medal at the 2011 National Para Games in
Zhejiang Province.
MEDIA GUIDE
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