Jayce
Badminton players often say, “Injuries are the biggest enemy.” For some athletes who face serious illnesses, overcoming the disease is already a blessing. If they can return to the court after a new lease on life, it is a gift and a boon from fate. In this Olympics, Mexican badminton men’s singles player Garrido is one such “warrior of life” who has bravely returned after conquering illness.
At 28 years old, Garrido started competing internationally at 17 and participated in the 2017 Glasgow World Championships. In 2015, he was unfortunately diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, which severely damaged his kidneys, causing daily hematuria. This illness nearly took his life, and it took him half a year to get out of danger. After returning to the court, Garrido was further troubled by knee injuries, undergoing eight surgeries within four years, putting him in a very precarious situation.
In Paris, Garrido met his idol, Lin Dan. He recalled the last time he saw Lin Dan was in 2016 when his world ranking had entered the top fifty, and he had just qualified for the Rio Olympics, but his illness prevented him from competing. Afterward, he devoted significant effort to recovery and was determined to return to the badminton court. Ultimately, through his tenacious efforts, he earned a ticket to the Paris Olympics. Garrido said, “Participating in the Olympics is my dream that I cannot give up. I know I won’t win a medal, but despite my injuries and the gap with my opponents, I know who I am.”
In the men’s singles event at the Paris Olympics, Garrido was placed in Group I, along with Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei and Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong, making it very challenging to advance. On July 28, Garrido made his debut against Chou Tien Chen. As expected, Chou won 2-0, but he admitted he did not know Garrido’s story beforehand. Coincidentally, Chou revealed earlier this year that he was diagnosed with colon cancer at the beginning of last year, but he discovered it in time and received treatment, allowing him to recover and return to the stage.
After hearing Garrido’s story, Chou was deeply moved. He said, “I didn’t know his story before the match, but I could feel his positivity from certain details; he was playing every shot with his life. I hope we both have a smooth competition and cherish the matches. We both earn respect through our struggles and defend the court with our lives. I think this is the Olympic spirit.” Chou’s experience with cancer last year gave him a deeper understanding and empathy, so he found Garrido after the match to exchange encouraging words.
In yesterday’s match, Garrido faced Lee Cheuk Yiu from Hong Kong and nearly pushed his opponent to the brink, eventually losing 5-21, 21-15, 17-21, thus ending his Olympic journey. For Garrido, just being on the court is a victory and a persistent dream that surpasses life and death. Although he did not advance from the group stage, fighting fiercely against Chou Tien Chen and pushing Lee Cheuk Yiu to three games left Garrido’s Paris journey with little regret.
We sincerely wish that those suffering from illness and pain can recover soon, return to the green courts, and continue to enjoy the vitality brought by badminton.
