What does it take to turn a challenge into a triumph?
At Shriners Children’s, we see the answer in our patients every day. It takes courage. It takes persistence. And it takes the kind of care that empowers children not only to heal, but to believe in themselves.
Shriners Children’s patient Zhenghong started para Nordic skiing only four years ago, and the 18-year-old is already making waves in the sport. He met a U.S. Paralympics development coach at a ski camp held by Shriners Children's Twin Cities, who saw his potential.
That connection set him on the road to elite competition – including training in Oberhof, Germany’s underground ski tunnel in 2024 and, just months later, racing against the world’s best at a World Cup event in Val di Fiemme, Italy.
In July 2025, Zhenghong was named to the 2025-26 U.S. Paralympics Nordic Skiing Development Team. As a Development Team member, he is among seven rising, promising athletes developing skills, speed and experience to transition into the National Team with hopes to compete in the 2030 Winter Paralympics.
Today's success is a long way from where this young man’s journey began. When Zhenghong first arrived at Shriners Children’s Twin Cities at age 5, he was a new adoptee from China adjusting to life in Minnesota. Because Zhenghong had been born with a limb difference, his mom, Sheila, thought a prosthetic would be essential to help him navigate daily life. The Shriners Children’s prosthetics team created a custom device, but they also shared something equally transformative: the reassurance that, whether he wore it or not, he could thrive exactly as he was.
That message, combined with the encouragement of Shriners Children’s sports camps, lit the spark that would guide his future. At Winter Camp Achieve, Zhenghong first strapped on skis and discovered the freedom of movement, competition and community.
“Shriners Children’s had a huge impact on my athletic career because they were the foundation of me loving sports and wanting to compete,” Zhenghong said. “They helped me stay healthy, and they were always willing to find a way to help me succeed whenever I requested a new prosthetic or needed help with something. Shriners Children’s gave me the confidence that I could ski with a physical difference. They also had summer camps where I tried out lots of new things like rock climbing and fishing. Those experiences shaped me into who I am today.”
