Zhang Yang

Along with being an Olympic champion, Fang Xingyue is also a professional pastry chef, known for her soufflé.

The 19-year-old won the championship in the women’s 25-meter breaststroke at the 14th Special Olympics World Games held last month in Los Angeles, the United States.

It’s the second time that Fang made her way to the top of an Olympic podium.

Four years ago, Fang earned two gold medals in the women’s 25-meter and 50-meter breaststroke at the 13th Special Olympics World Games in Athens, Greece.

“We only felt that she developed more slowly than other children, but we didn’t realize the problem until she began to lag behind in primary school,” said Fang’s grandmother, Zhao Fengqin. The 75-year-old came to Shenzhen from Chongqing to live with Fang and take care of her.

Zhao said the family decided to transfer Fang to Shenzhen Yuanping Special Education School when she was in fourth grade, after Fang was diagnosed as mentally handicapped.

“She would have gotten better care if we had discovered it earlier,” Zhao said, adding that she and Fang’s parents were worried about Fang until she showed her talent in her school’s swimming pool.

After being recruited by the school’s swimming team, Fang trained four times a week for two hours each time.

“The school didn’t burden these children with high goals, instead it encouraged them to enjoy swimming,” Zhao said.

Fang also learned how to make desserts at the school, and she was recommended to the Langham Hotel in Futian District in June last year to work in the pastry kitchen.

Fang started by doing the most basic work of decorating cakes and mashing almonds and candies into smaller pieces. She learned baking from a chef surnamed Yang in the pastry kitchen, working five days a week.

“I want to be a chef some day,” Fang said. Fang’s soufflé, a kind of cupcake, is popular with customers.

Zhang Xiaoyun, the marketing officer at the Langham Hotel, said the company wants to help special employees like Fang find a place in the society by equipping them with professional skills.

“Fang is the most welcomed staff member at the Children’s Corner hosted by the hotel on the weekend. She makes marshmallows for the kids,” Zhang said, adding that the hotel tries to encourage Fang to communicate with people more often.

Two other employees with hearing disabilities, who were classmates of Fang at the special school, also work in the pastry kitchen.

“They are treated like normal employees by colleagues and supervisors, but with more patience and care,” said Zhang.

As for Zhao, all she wants is Fang to be more independent by finding a job and living a happy life.

“We still worry about her future,” said Zhao. “She has to rely on herself some day after we pass away.”