S1 Ep7: Daniel Chan on Self-Acceptance

Daniel Chan opens up on how he learnt to accept himself and his disability after a road traffic accident in 2008.

The Para badminton player from Hong Kong was injured in a car accident aged 22, with the next 10 months of his life spent living in hospital and undergoing over 15 operations, culminating in the loss of his leg.

“When I first woke up, I was in ICU. I asked my doctor 'have I lost my legs?' and he said I had lost one. And I made a joke and said, 'but I’m still alive, right?'"

The loss of his leg changed Chan’s mentality, recalling the shame he felt when looking in the mirror after the accident and how he struggled to cope in the months and years afterwards, a time he recalls as being 'the dark age' of his life.

"The reality of the real world was a problem. In hospital, everyone had a physical problem. Nobody discriminated you. In the real world, everyone is normal. You are the minority. They put their eyes on me because I look strange. It makes you uncomfortable. But I needed to continue my life."

And in the 12 years since his accident, that is what he has done, accepting his disability and thriving in his life both as a person and as a sporting idol.

Chan also spoke about his life in sport, where he is the world’s leading Para badminton player in his classification. Ahead of the sport’s Paralympic Games introduction at Tokyo 2020, he explains the importance of the Games in reaching the pinnacle of his sporting life after numerous World Championship medals.

Learning topics for this episode include self-acceptance, self-understanding, overcoming trauma, the importance of family and personal growth.

Allianz is a long-standing partner of the International Paralympic Committee. Together, we’re proud to bring you this series of podcasts. We aim to help you move forward in all aspects of your personal and professional life.

By hearing from Paralympic stars, you’ll be introduced to stories that inspire and change the way you think. Stories of facing life’s challenges with confidence, determination and excellence, and the true power of having the right team behind you.