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WASHINGTON: Jenny Lang Ping, a beloved Chinese sports hero who
helped the 1984 women’s volleyball team capture Olympic gold, will
be trying to thwart China’s chances at Beijing as coach of the US
squad.
Lang Ping, known as the “Iron Hammer” during
her playing days, had her wedding shown on national television in
China and had a postage stamp issued in her honor. In April, she
carried the Olympic torch during its US stop.
Now she hopes to bring the spirit of sporting
unity she symbolizes to her hometown for the Olympics.
“I feel like I’m on both sides,” Lang Ping
said. “I’m very proud to have this opportunity. The flame is
going to my hometown and hopefully I can carry this spirit on to the
Olympic Games.”
Lang Ping guided China to the silver medal at
the 1996 Olympics and last coached in China in 1998, then spent six
years coaching in Italy before replacing Japan’s Toshi Yoshida as
the US women’s coach in late 2004.
“I was reluctant to take over this job because
the Games were in Beijing,” she said. “I talked to a lot of my
friends and coaches to see what they thought.”
Lang Ping, 48, is one of the few women coaches
in global volleyball circles and will join Hungarian 1972, 1976 and
1980 Olympic coach Gabriella Kotsis as the only woman to guide teams
in multiple Olympics.
“For international games, you travel too much.
You don’t spend time at home with your family. That’s why a
woman coach doesn’t want that job,” she said.
As hard as she will try to guide the Americans
past China, Lang Ping admits the defending Olympic champion Chinese
team will be tough to top.
“China’s team looks very well. They have
prepared very well. They have time to prepare for every angle and
all the details. I think they have a very good shot at winning the
gold medal,” Lang Ping said.
“They won the gold medal in 2004. They don’t
have to worry too much. China has one of the top teams in the
world.”
Lang Ping has had the US women play several
tune-up events in China to become adjusted to conditions there and
to see how security, transportation and food will be handled when
the Olympics arrive.
-- AFP
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