Man who lost arms in horror accident turns disability into record-breaking skill

A man who lost his arms in a horror accident with a high-voltage wire has transformed his disability into a record-breaking talent.

Li Fengqiang (China) has claimed the record for fastest time to put on and remove a pair of socks using the feet with a time of just 25.73 sec after learning to dress himself without hands.

The 48-year-old, who works as a sports coach for people with disabilities, has mastered a number of daily tasks using his feet and wants to inspire people to embrace challenges with confidence and creativity.

Li, a dad-of-three, lost his arms when he was eight after accidentally coming into contact with a high-voltage wire.

"That year changed the trajectory of my life, but it didn't take away my courage to live," he said.

Li said re-learning how to do everything with his feet instead of his hands was "extremely difficult, but not impossible".

He added: "After losing my arms, I had to relearn everything: eating, dressing, writing, even using the toilet. Blistered toes, cramps, and falls were commonplace. But I told myself: either accept your fate or fight for it. I chose the latter; using my feet instead of my hands became a lifelong learning process.

"My motto is, 'What able-bodied people can do with their hands, I can do with my feet too.' Growing up, I've heard countless questions like, 'How can you do it without hands?' I wanted to prove through my actions that physical limitations don't equate to limitations of ability.

"This sock speed challenge wasn't about seeking novelty, but about challenging myself and pushing the impossible. For this dream, I practised putting on and taking off socks every day during breaks between training and work, timing myself repeatedly until the movements became second nature."

Read more inspirational stories like this in our Human Body section.

Li, founder of Feiyu Sports Club and Hubei Zhile Swimming Facilities Co., Ltd., said he was surprisingly calm when he realized he had broken the record.

He said: "I knew this wasn't a sudden inspiration, but the result of decades of perseverance. If I felt any excitement, it wasn't for the record itself, but because I thought that perhaps some disabled child who saw this information would be inspired and willing to try again - that's the reward I most wanted.

"I want to tell every disabled person: your life is not defined. Disability is not an obstacle; giving up is. I didn't achieve this record to show off, but to become a 'visible role model'. If you are feeling lost or inferior right now, please remember: I can put on my socks with my feet in 22 seconds; you have hands, and you can definitely do better than me. At the same time, I hope society sees that disabled people are not objects of pity, but strivers with unlimited potential."

Li is currently thinking about what other records he could break by performing everyday tasks with his feet.

He also said he's grateful to see his own and other disabled people's achievements recognized as world records.

And he hopes that through Guinness World Records, people will pay more attention to the sporting achievement of people with disabilities.

He's also doing his bit by offering free training for disabled teenagers through his Flying Fish Sports Club.

Li is such an inspiration and an amazing role model.