The national hero, the supercrip, and the self-reliant figure: Paralympic champions on China Central Television’s sports channel

Abstract

Within the sociocultural context of China, this study applies a textual analysis to the coverage of Paralympic champions on China Central Television’s sports channel from 2008 to 2019. Three discursive themes through which Paralympic champions are portrayed are identified. When viewing Paralympic sports through the lens of social model and critical perspectives, the portrayal of para-athletes as national heroes represents Paralympic champions as a commendable group that contributes to the establishment of the national identity and reputation, while the supercrip portrayal of these champions as superhumans connects them to non-disabled society. Their depiction as self-reliant figures establishes a role model for retired athletes in the Chinese context, meanwhile also advocating a logic of independence from state-sponsored welfare across divergent fields related to disability. Thus, disabled persons are incorporated into discursive systems directed by the state, media, and society in the interactions among politics, social norms, and the economy.