Sudden illness left Ye Xiaoli almost completely deaf in one ear, but now the sky's the limit for this indomitable parachuter. Huang Zhiling reports in Qionglai, Sichuan.

To most Chinese, the age of 39 is too old for an athlete. But Ye Xiaoli is still very active. During the 37th World Military Parachuting Championship held in Qionglai, Sichuan province, last week, the mother of a 9-year-old girl grabbed two of the 18 golds for the championship.

On Oct 24, she won a gold medal for the women's formation skydive with three other aces from the August 1st Parachuting Team of the People's Liberation Army of China.