Training for the 2012 games

With just a year until the 2012 Summer Olympics, athletes are immersed in intensive training around the world. Reuters photographer Jason Lee documented members of China's Yunzhinan Swimming Club as they prepared for the Paralympics, which will be held in London in August, after the Olympics. Olympic-style games for disabled athletes were organized for the first time during the 1960 Summer Games in Rome. -- Lloyd Young (21 photos total)

Qian Hongyan, 16, from the Yunzhinan Swimming Club for the handicapped, climbs onto a platform during a daily training session at a swimming centre in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan province, July 30, 2011. About 30 disabled athletes from the club aged 10 to 22 are training for the London 2012 Paralympic Games. The club was founded in August 2007. (Reuters/Jason Lee)

Coach Li Keqiang (left) speaks to members of the Yunzhinan Swimming Club for the handicapped, after a daily training session. (Reuters/Jason Lee) #

Qian Hongyan, 16, from the Yunzhinan Swimming Club for the handicapped, practices during a daily training session at a swimming center in Kunming. (Reuters/Jason Lee) #

Xu Jiawen, a 11-year-old from the Yunzhinan Swimming Club for the handicapped, stretches during a daily training session. (Reuters/Jason Lee) #

Gu Kaixiang (left) and 15-year-old Ma Kangbo, from the Yunzhinan Swimming Club for the handicapped, practice during a daily training session at a swimming center. (Reuters/Jason Lee) #

Guan Xiangnan from the Yunzhinan Swimming Club for the handicapped practices swimming posture while facing a mirror. (Reuters/Jason Lee) #

Bai Juan, from the Yunzhinan Swimming Club for the handicapped, smiles as she is held by her coach Li Keqiang after a daily workout. (Reuters/Jason Lee) #

Xu Jiawen from the Yunzhinan Swimming Club for the handicapped stretches during daily training. (Reuters/Jason Lee) #

Qian Hongyan (right) and 19-year-old Wu Qi practice walking. (Reuters/Jason Lee) #

Wu Qi practices with her coach Li Keqiang. (Reuters/Jason Lee) #

Qian Hongyan,16, from the club prepares to enter the water. (Reuters/Jason Lee) #

Qian Hongyand dives into the pool during a daily training session at a swimming centre in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan province. (Reuters/Jason Lee) #

Yang Ping (left), 22, from the Yunzhinan Swimming Club for the handicapped, puts on swimming goggle for her teammate Xu Qing. (Reuters/Jason Lee) #

Hao Weixing, 18, from the Yunzhinan Swimming Club for the handicapped, practices his backstroke technique. (Reuters/Jason Lee) #

Xu Jiawen, 11, during practice at the swimming center in Kunming. (Reuters/Jason Lee) #

Hao Weixing, 18, works on his freestyle during training. (Reuters/Jason Lee) #

Wang Chao (left), 20, from the Yunzhinan Swimming Club works on his backstroke. (Reuters/Jason Lee) #

Pan Jinping, from the Yunzhinan Swimming Club for the handicapped, relaxes near a father and daughter after a daily training session. (Reuters/Jason Lee) #

Xu Qing, 20, from the Yunzhinan Swimming Club for the handicapped, takes a drink of water during a break in training. (Reuters/Jason Lee) #

Qian Hongyan, 16, from the Yunzhinan Swimming Club for the handicapped, works on her technique. (Reuters/Jason Lee) #

A member of the Yunzhinan Swimming Club for the handicapped jumps into the pool during a daily training session at a swimming center in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan province, July 30, 2011. About 30 disabled athletes from the club aged 10 to 22 are training for the London 2012 Paralympic Games. The club was founded in August 2007. (Reuters/Jason Lee) #

E-mail this article

Sending your article

Your article has been sent.