Chinese high jumper Chen Hongjie, 34, will compete in his fifth edition of Paralympics when the event gets underway in Paris on Wednesday.

Chen is one of the oldest members of China's track and field team. Having lost his right arm and left leg to an electric shock at the age of seven, he was raised by his mother, who passed away in 2009.

Chen's Paralympic journey started in 2008 in Beijing, where he claimed the bronze medal in the men's F44/46 event. He then added another bronze at the 2012 edition in London and earned a silver at Rio 2016.

"I promised my mom that one day, I would win the Paralympic gold medal," Chen told China Media Group (CMG). "Although I have aged, I don't want to give up easily. I'm older and on my way down, but I still have the belief that I can do it, and I want to keep my word."

Chen has never been very talkative and rarely mentions the pain of losing his mother. Instead, he wants to pay tribute to her with his performance.

Chen considers Beijing 2008 as his most memorable edition of the Paralympics. He recalls being too nervous and excited to sleep ahead of the competition and feeling his legs shake when he stepped onto the field.

"I don't know if it will be my final Paralympics," Chen said. "But I know my body. The high jump is about explosiveness. Track and field is always friendlier to young athletes than to veterans. I'm in my 30s, which is pretty old for a high jumper, so I think it may be my final Paralympics."

Despite all the hardships Chen has gone through, if this is his final appearance at the Paralympics, he aims to go out on top of the podium in Paris.