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The Price of Reaching the Top

Chinese weightlifter left her family as child

By Katherine Thompson, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 9, 2008 10:27 AM CDT

(Newser) – Nearly all of Chin'a Olympic athletes come out of the country’s sports boarding schools—a system that depends on the dismal prospects of the country's poor. "A rich person would never let his child do this," the father of Athens gold medalist Chen Yanqing tells the Wall Street Journal. But "if we didn't send her away to sports school, she would have ended up a farmer."

When a coach took note of her athletic ability at age 11, her parents made the difficult decision to send her away to train. If she excelled, she would receive free schooling, and a stipend—enough to raise the standard of living for her family. But the decision took an emotional toll and molded the course of the weightlifter’s life.

China's Chen Yanqing stands on the winner's podium in an earlier competition. She was scratched from the Sydney games because China feared a North Korean athlete would best her. (Getty Images (by Event))

China's Chen Yanqing looks at her weights before competition. (Getty Images (by Event))

Chen Yanqing, slim for her sport, was a gold medalist in Athens. (Getty Images (by Event))

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80% are jobless, injured, or impoverished

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

China • 2008 Beijing Olympics • weight lifting • Chinese athletes • Olympics • Chen Yanqing

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

Officials Clear Chinese Gymnasts

But some of the 2000 competitors were too young, FIG says

Communist Party Basks in Olympic Afterglow

Olympics strengthen ruling party after decade of planning

China's Gold Rush Pays Off Nicely for Athletes

Government, corporations give athletes big bucks on top of Olympic glory

Beijing Struggles to Fill Stadiums

Sold-out games are full of empty seats

Chinese Athletes Destitute After Glory Days

80% are jobless, injured, or impoverished

About Us

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Newser By Users

Community

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What is Newser?