Cheering for the Iron Hammer
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A COUPLE of years ago, before a trip to China, Nicole Davis and her US women's volleyball
teammates were warned about the prominence of coach “Jenny" Lang Ping in her native
country.
"I was pushed over by Chinese journalist
s [while I was] just trying to put my luggage on the bus," said Davis.
Known as the "Iron Hammer" for her punishing spikes, Lang propelled China's domination of the sport in the early 1980s. She was a key player on China's 1984 Olympic gold medal-winning team.
When the US team arrived for the Olympics, Lang, 48, who is from Beijing, had to take a different route to avoid a throng of reporters and fans.
"Then came the greatest testament to Lang: While the US team was playing in a packed gym of at least 8,000, Chinese fans unfurled an American flag.
"That really says it all," Davis said. "They look at her as an icon. I'm sure it's hard for them to see her coaching another country, but they love her so dearly that her success is their success."
The loyalty of the Chinese fans was tested on Friday, when China lost a match to the US.
"It's a pity that China lost the match, but I'm still glad that Lang Ping's team won, since she is the pride of China's volleyball," said Liu Chengli, a spectator. "We also cheered for Lang's victory."
Lang says she just tries to stay professional when the two teams meet. "It doesn't matter if we play China or any other team. Every time is the same," Lang said.
Davis said she and her teammates could not have imagined the passion for volleyball among Chinese because of the sport's lack of popularity in the US. The reception from Chinese fans has touched the US players, said US volleyball player Lindsey Berg.
"It's such an honor to be here and play for our coach here in China," she said. "The amount of support that the Chinese give to her and us has been tremendous. The whole event has been unbelievable."
Coaches return home
Qiao Liang
In Iowa in 1993, gymnast Qiao Liang arrived in the US on a full scholarship. When he returned to his homeland a few weeks ago, he brought a group of elite American gymnasts to vie for gold in the Olympics. Qiao's star pupil, Shawn Johnson won the silver medal in the women's individual all-around artistic gymnastics final last week.
Liu Guodong
Singapore bagged its first Olympic silver medal in 48 years on Friday after its table tennis women's team lost to China in the final. The important man behind their success is coach Liu Guodong, the former Chinese team player and older brother of Chinese team head coach Liu Guoliang.
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