Wheelchair fencer Zhang Lei of China admitted that there was some regrets after winning two silver medals in two days, but he gave himself "A plus" as he has braved a fever since the event began.
Zhang, 26, winning silver medals in men's foil Category A on Sunday, lost to his teammate Tian Jianquan 15-11 in men's epee final on Monday, missing the chance to turn the medal color.
Zhang suffered from the sudden fever on Sunday morning, and he felt less energetic to compete in the foil.
A silver medal did not make him feel better and he spent Sunday night in hospital, barely getting back to the Paralympic Village on Monday morning.
Earlier in the day, his coach and team leader tried to persuade him to give up Monday's competition, but he refused.
"I would rather exhaust myself on the piste than lie in bed watching others play. I've been training so hard for so long just for these two days, so I can't give up," he explained.
"I would be lying if I say there are no regrets (to win two silvers). You never go all the way into the final not longing for the gold.
"However, considering my health condition and everything, I give myself an 'A plus' for my overall performance today," he added.
Though he collected two silvers, Zhang was more popular than Tian as all spectators gave him passionate cheers and applause when he passed the stand on wheelchair.
"That's the greatest part of my 2008 Paralympic Games journey. It also gives us Chinese a chance to get to know the Paralympic sports and hopefully attract more attention to the sporting environment for the disabled athletes."
Zhang said he has not decided if he would compete in the London Paralympics in 2012, but he was very happy to see his young teammate Tian has made rapid progress in these years.
"When I knew I would be competing against Tian in the final, my first reaction was like: 'Great! Now we have secured another gold medal!'
"And after all these years training and living together we are just so familiar with each other. I'm happy to see that Tian is improving in the sport. It makes China a stronger team,
"I'm giving myself a long vacation to fully relax, but before that I have to go back to the hospital to finish my treatment," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2008)