1998 20/20 Sang Lan Profile gymnastics

and one day last July when you were in the air did you know it was all wrong yes I knew I made a mistake as the world held its breath we learned she'd been paralyzed from the neck down now 20:20 takes you on an exclusive journey to her world today you'll be there she works to make progress on the long road back and as she meets someone who's been there I want to be your long-term friend [Music] Connie Chung with the girl we cried for last summer a 2020 exclusive the heart of a champion those stories tonight then she made us cry a young Chinese gymnast paralyzed from the neck down now 2020 takes you on an exclusive journey into her world today and look who's now by her side and then 2020 Friday continues now Barbara Walters it doesn't happen very often but last summer there was an incident that touched so many of us to the core we were moved to tears by the sight of a young gymnast from China lying still on the floor her body and her dreams shattered after a terrible fall the girl's name is song lon and tonight you're going to hear her speak in depth for the first time she talks openly touchingly to Connie Chung about the accident and how it has changed her life in a way that will surprise you the Olympics for gymnasts or any athletes there is no greater promise land just ask anyone who stood on that podium with gold around her neck for these young girls in a dilapidated gym in China an Olympic medal is the ultimate goal they are the chosen one the young girls the Chinese government has hand-picked to be future champions among those who bought into that dream was a young girl named Sun lung san long was just in kindergarten when her teachers spotted her potential as a champion before she could even read son Liang was being groomed for superstardom at a furious pace when I was 6 years old I was selected to the juvenile gymnast II later I was chosen for the provincial gymnastics team and then when I was 13 years old I made the national team then I knew I was a good gymnast the gymnastics world wasn't just saying that Sunland was good great was the word most often used to describe her acrobatic grace San Juan was was like poetry she was lyrical she was dainty former gymnast Cathy Johnson Clarke was a television commentator for this year's Goodwill Games I would say she's certainly among the best in the world and among the best in the world involved I mean I want it to be a world champion did you dream of going to the Olympics oh yeah I really wanted to participate in the Olympics because it's such a big event and it only comes around every four years yes it was my dramatic you know way but at the Goodwill Games on July 21st those dreams were shattered competition hadn't even begun yet sunlen was merely warming up when the unthinkable occurred the agile teenager with the extraordinary body control somehow lost control during a simple routine vault Salman landed on her head the impact crushing her vertebra and leaving her completely paralyzed from the neck down in that horrifying split-second more than just Sun Lang's promising career would be destroyed her life as she knew it was about to radically change forever at the time I was quite afraid I couldn't feel my arms or legs when you were in the air did you know it was all wrong yes I knew I made a mistake when I was in the air someone says her mistake may have been too much speed on her approach for support she reached to put her hands on the vault but her shoulders were already too far forward instead of completing just one full rotation her momentum carried her uncontrollably into a second flip causing her to land with tremendous force on her head at the time of impact it was extremely painful vehicle a stunned silence fell over the crowd as an entire unit of medics hovered over sunland's lifeless body doctor guna Burlinson was among those who threw himself into the race against time to save Sunland immediately I got her off of the podium onto a stretcher and then quickly transferred her to the waiting EMS unit all I could think of was this baby and she was so far away from home and I just wanted to hold her and obviously I couldn't go hold her so I went I held my son who my mom and my husband were taking care of I think I knew immediately how bad it was what was going through your mind Trey yeah I think I was afraid trait that I wouldn't be able to stand up again San Lang was rushed to nearby Nassau County Medical Center in critical condition do you remember the first question that she had when you saw her here in the ER yes I do it was actually a very touching moment she asked me if she was going to return to gymnastics and I told her that I I didn't think so dr. Leone led a team of surgeons in a risky seven-hour operation some monks crushed pieces of vertebrae were replaced with three small metal plates but with this once vibrant young athlete respond to surgery or remain paralyzed less than 48 hours after surgery she was moved to Mount Sinai NYU Medical Center's where dr. Christian ragnarson answered that critical question will San Lang ever walk again sang Lang will not walk again unless we have a major scientific breakthrough I have to prepare her for a life that is in a wheelchair the cruel twist of fate has made Salman cry at night when she's alone something she refuses to let others see when my teammates came to say goodbye I saw tears in their eyes I told them not to be sad I'll be cured one day before they left every one of them gave me a kiss I loved her and wished me well Nico : did you cry mommy oh cool I did not cry because I knew if I cried everybody might cry so I didn't cry it's not long there's no time for tears not with grueling rehabilitation awaiting her it was very clear from the beginning that she was ready to work and work she has good take a break for a second she's going till she gets it perfect at first ten line could barely shrug her shoulders but now after two months of rehab she has greater strength and mobility in her arms and upper body why although even the simplest movements are still an ordeal and basic tasks are now a daily frustration what was once routine for this world-class athlete now pushes sound mind to the brink of exhaustion despite all her hard work Sohn Lang is unable to move from the chest down she needs to be stretched so that her muscles won't spasm that happened many times during our interview she's completely dependent on others physically and financially a tragedy that's captured the attention of not just the media but some big-name celebrities as well Jackie Chan came to visit Celine Dion sang to Sun lying in our hospital room and Leonardo DiCaprio also stopped by to lend encouragement so nice to meet you but by far the most meaningful visit came from Christopher Reeve whom San Lang saw as a kindred spirit one of the few who really knows all about the agonizing road that lies ahead do you think there is any hope for us to walk again or stand up after spinal cord injury I want to be your long-term friend is that possible can you leave your number my number that you can call me whenever you want we'll stay in touch in Chris Reeve son long has found someone who can provide an occasional booster shot of optimism but she's also discovered a young man who's volunteered to be by her side day in and day out his name is Winston it was actually Winston's mother Gina Liu who looked after the Chinese gymnastics team while in America yeah but when son lines crisis began it was Winston who stepped forward to become her protector and perhaps her soul mate I hope that I could be next to her all the time from now on to to the end to take care of him to take care of her yes the news have become son lines American Guardians sort of like her second family in San Lang had an instant chemistry that left both of them wondering if this friendship was somehow meant to be shot me do believe in fate I'm never leaving fate before after this time I think I'm beginning to believe in fate because you were able to meet yes would you be terribly sad if she went back to China forever I think I would go with her he'd go with him it's like my destiny to take him off to take care of her Winston may be sure about his destiny but song Long's future is far from certain three short months ago she was headed for the cover of a Wheaties box but in the wink of an eye she was condemned to life in a wheelchair even though fate has been cruel to son long she somehow remains hopeful and unwilling to admit at least for now that she would like to have that pivotal moment in time back so she could change I realized I may not be able to walk again do you actually accept it boy I've already accepted it I understand my medical status but I have faith in myself and hope that I myself will be able to recover [Music] sanguine was discharged from the hospital last Friday she's now in New York where she will continue her therapy and of course we've heard that she does get more use at least of her upper body yeah we sure do and we understand also now she's taking classes for English learning that and she says someday she may want to go back to gymnastics as a coach you can get more information about Sandlin at our website at abcnews.com we'll be right back

Channel: MizMamie

Views: 60,341

Rating: 4.7714286 out of 5

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Id: C9makVHI-_U

Length: 12min 11sec (731 seconds)

Published: Sun Jan 21 2018