Xiao Team USA

Yan Xiao Gong

"Yes there were times I'm sure you knew, when I bit off more than I could chew. But through it all, when there was doubt, I ate it up, and spit it out. I faced it all and stood tall, and did it my way."

"Yes there were times I'm sure you knew, when I bit off more than I could chew. But through it all, when there was doubt, I ate it up, and spit it out. I faced it all and stood tall, and did it my way."

A charted journey never planned.

Driven by a profound belief in the human spirit's power to transcend limitations, he embarked on a remarkable journey.

Intrigued by the allure of extreme sports, from rock climbing and scuba diving to skiing and rafting, Xiao embraced his new and welcoming country and language.

However, at his initial attempt at surfing during his high school freshman year, an extremely rare spinal cord injury occurred. 33 cases were officially recorded in the world - a rare case of “Surfers’ Myelopathy”. Despite the prognosis that confined him to a wheelchair from the most advanced institutions, Xiao demonstrated monumental resilience. Through sheer grit, sweat, and perhaps something else, over the subsequent 5 years, he defied all expectations.

He stood, he nudged, he dragged himself forward for months, years, on sandy beaches; back-and-forth across the asphalt of countless parking lots; the slick floors of shopping malls; and, he actually began to walk. He has in fact, created a path through a medically uncharted wilderness, defying expectations from doctors, physical therapists, and friends.

He transformed himself into a documentary filmmaker and a Paralympian. This journey forged an unwavering dedication and a lifelong commitment to turning adversities into opportunities.

His later athletic success on the world stage culminated in the distinction of becoming the most decorated US Paralympic shooting athlete in history, a testament to his perseverance. As a Paralympic shooter representing Team USA, Xiao strives to push past limits and honor every challenge that has shaped his journey.

“In comparison to defying the limitations of the nature of one’s body, any endeavor among men shrinks to insignificance.”

He has earned his place in history as the most decorated Paralympic shooter. But beyond records, his true mission is to help grow the sport and “its indispensable values”, inspiring the nation and the world, giving to the community by helping and inspiring younger generations of unique individuals with disabilities, helping parents find the true passion lying in their children, chipping away at their external boundaries and discovering the true talent gleaming from within.

“I’ve had my fill, my share of losing. I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption. For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught, to say the things he truly feels, not the words of one who kneels. The record shows, I took the blows, and did it my way.”

“I’ve had my fill, my share of losing. I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption. For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught, to say the things he truly feels, not the words of one who kneels. The record shows, I took the blows, and did it my way.”