Triathlete Enhances Opportunities for The Visually Impaired in China

Unlike many parents in China who typically view sport as a path to high-performance excellence, Jiyuan “Annie” Li developed a love of physical activity through experiences with her father who saw sport differently. At a young age, he taught her how to run, bike, and swim, which led to her competing in triathlons as an adult and developing a passion for physical activity. Then, in 2015, Annie—alongside her husband Ken, a fellow triathlete and GSMP alumnus—recognized a need in their community and co-founded “beYoureyeS,” a running program for people with visual impairments. Since its inception, “beYoureyeS” has hosted more than 600 events where approximately 25,000 athletes have competed in their inclusive activity experiences.

Annie earned a bachelor’s degree in Information Management and Information Systems from Shanghai University and a business diploma from the University of Technology in Sydney. Inspired by Ken’s successful experience in the GSMP, Annie hopes to continue growing “beYoureyeS” into a long-lasting and impactful organization across all of mainland China. Through the GSMP, she also hopes to gain further insight into the development of sport races and ways she and Ken can provide more inclusive spaces for persons with and without disabilities to play and compete alongside each other. For GSMP: Sport for Community 2022, Annie will be mentored by Robert Reed, Membership and Rentals Manager, and his team at Ability360 in Phoenix, AZ.