By Oliver Trust

BERLIN, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- During a recent interview with German television, Paralympic swimmer Elena Semechin, classified as SB12 due to her visual impairment, was unable to hold back tears as emotions overwhelmed her. The 30-year-old, who took her second Paralympic gold at the 2024 Paris Games by setting a world record of 1:12.54 in the 100-meter breaststroke, reflected on her journey since winning gold at the 2021 Tokyo Games and her battle with brain cancer, diagnosed in October 2021.

"I've proven to myself that I can be faster than before the diagnosis. Today, I wasn't competing against others; I was competing against myself," said the Kazakhstan-born German athlete.

Semechin underwent brain surgery followed by 13 cycles of chemotherapy, a process she said transformed her into a new person.

"I hope I can serve as an encouraging example for others to never give up and achieve things they once thought impossible," she said. Semechin admitted she was uncertain if she could recover after the devastating diagnosis she received following the Tokyo Games.

Despite the grueling treatment, Semechin continued to train and went on to win two silver medals at the 2022 World Championships. Six months after completing her final chemotherapy session, she claimed gold at the 2023 World Championships in Manchester.

Semechin acknowledged that she doesn't know if or when the cancer will return, but she and her husband Phillip, who has coached her since 2015, have chosen to live in the moment.

Her story, she said, is a testament to the power of positivity and resilience. With a smile, Phillip added that he plans to shave his impressive beard, fulfilling a promise made when Elena set a new world record.

Semechin lost much of her vision at age seven due to a hereditary disease but began swimming at 13, drawn to the sense of freedom and new challenges that sports provided.

Two days before her difficult brain surgery in November 2021, she married Phillip.

Recalling the "dark days" after her cancer diagnosis, Semechin described the period as terrible and said she couldn't imagine returning to her previous athletic form. She credited her coach and the support team around her for helping her reach her goals.

Tokyo and Paris may not be the final chapters in Semechin's Paralympic career, as she is considering competing in the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

"We don't know when cancer might return. Medicine suggests a cycle of 12 years, but it could be sooner. So, we just live day by day, stay happy, and keep practicing," Phillip said, adding that he is not worried about his beloved beard - it will have time to grow back before the 2028 Games. Enditem

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