A symbol of the 1980s. A spiritual leader of the Chinese Women's volleyball Team and of tens of thousands of fans. A heroine who won four world championships for the team. And also a team builder who lifted a sluggish Chinese Women's Volleyball Team to runner-up of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and recovered the team's former respect.

But now she returns to the fierce competition among the world's top volleyball teams under a new title.

Lang Ping, one of the most famous and respected individuals in the history of volleyball, has been hired as the new head coach for the US Women's National Volleyball Team.

What if her team collides with the women from her homeland in the 2008 Beijing Olympics" 

It is hard for her fans to imagine but it is possible.

For Lang, it is harder.

Years of thought

The acceptance seems quite natural in a way. Lang, mother of a 12-year-old girl named Lydia who now lives in Tustin, California, with her father, hopes that she can be around to share the joys and pains of he daughter's adolescent life.

"It is the only choice left if I want to take care of both my career and my family," said Lang, who used to coach volleyball clubs in Italy.

"It was only after long and meticulous consideration that I made the decision to take the job," she said during an interview with Shanghai-based Dragon TV.

Lang was approached by USA Volleyball as early as 2000, but at that time, she turned down the offer.

"I give dominant priority to the interests of my country," said Lang. "I have promised I will never coach any national team until the Chinese team reaches its apex. Now the team is in a very good condition and the girls will continue their good performance and become better." 

The Chinese Women's Volleyball Team pocketed gold in the 2004 Athens Olympics and the younger generation players have become the backbone of the team, a promising sign that may push the team to a good performance in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Setting qualification for the Beijing Olympics as a modest first goal, Lang refrained from over-estimating the ability of the US team.

"It will be a great honor if the US Women's Volleyball Team meets China in the final in the Beijing Olympics," she said. "But it seems the biggest competitor to the Chinese Women's Volleyball Team is not the US team but rather the teams from Cuba, Brazil and Russia." 

In the eyes of the Chinese people, Lang is far more than just a volleyball star. A member of the Chinese Women's Volleyball Team that inspired an early-1980s China, which had just emerged from seclusion and started out on a path of robust economic development, Lang is still regarded as one the nation's spiritual idols.

"As one of the most influential athletes and a spiritual leader of Chinese volleyball, Lang Ping's influence over China and world volleyball far exceeds the sport itself," said Gu Donghui, a sociologist from Fudan University.

"If Lang collides with China as opponents during women's volleyball matches at the Beijing Olympics, it will be difficult to accept for the new generation of Chinese players, for coach Chen Zhonghe who was once her assistant and for the 1.3 billion Chinese in the stadium or in front of their TV sets," said an editorial of China Olympic Xingkong, the China Olympic Committee's authorized website.

History can be mirrored. When He Zhili, a former Chinese table tennis player who later married a Japanese man and chose Japanese nationality, snatched a gold medal for Japan after beating Chinese player Deng Yaping in the 1994 Asian Games, the whole country poured hatred and anger on her, although she was no longer a Chinese.

Respect and understanding

However, the public and the media unanimously embrace Lang with respect and understanding.

"Lang knows the -Chinese Women's Volleyball Team well, so it is a challenge for the Chinese team that she is coaching the US team now," said Chen Jing, a member of the Chinese women's team. "But this can help to lift the sport to a higher level (by enhanced competition)." 

Lang's Chinese counterpart, Chen Zhonghe, said he would be glad to meet Lang on the court.

"I respect Lang's decision. She is a respected volleyball player and coach and a mother," said Chen.

Support and understanding also come from the general public.

"It is a pride of China for Lang to become the new head coach of the US Women's Volleyball Team," said Zhang Hongliang, a taxi driver.

Judy Zhou, a fan of Lang who worked for a public relations company, said she respected Lang's choice and will support her no matter which team she serves.

A survey conducted by China's top website sina.com showed that a majority of people supported Lang's choice and thought it was an honor for her and the whole country.

"Yao Ming entered the NBA because Yao needs the NBA to improve while Lang coaches the US team because they need Lang to lift their level," said Zhou.

"It will promote exchanges in the field of sports and culture," said Xu Benli, an expert from the Shanghai Physical Education Institute.

As China makes rapid progress in sports, international exchanges in the field of sports have been strengthened. Foreign athletes and coaches can be found on the football pitch, basketball courts and at the Go tables.

China's athletes and coaches can also be found in the NBA, Britain's Premier League, South Korea's table tennis clubs and Australia's diving team.

(Shanghai Star March 4, 2005)