At the training hall of the Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics (BUAA), your eyes will inevitably be attracted by Patricia Perla Barcenas, a Mexican woman powerlifter.

Not only because of the colour of her hair, which is dyed pink, but also because of her passion. The 37-year-old always looks quite happy and excited.

"I just gave birth to my baby, so I need some time to recover," said Barcenas, the silver medallist in 75kg category at 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games.

"I'm not planning to win any medal this time. I'm here because I want to tell my baby that the reason we were born is to make achievements. No difficulty can be an excuse for failure."

Though she has to move by a wheelchair because of polio, her passion to life has never been changed. You can find it soon by the colour of her hair.

"I started to dye my hair at 14 years old, and once I had dyed it in the colours of our national flag," she said happily. "This time I dyed it pink, because it is my favourite colour, together with blue. It can make me happy."

Barcenas started powerlifting at the age of 26 in 1997. "Several years ago only male competitions can take part in this sport. Women have not been allowed until recent years. It's really a challenge for us females. It's a kind of sport representing courage. I love this sport," she said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 8, 2008)