郎平,中国女排的代表人物,我们都会亲切地称呼她为铁榔头,她经历过四夺世界冠军的辉煌,享受过全民敬仰的荣誉;30年来始终走在排球运动的最前线,现在,郎平依然是不少人的偶像,而她的身份已经转变为美国女排主教练,2008年8月,她将带着这支球队来北京与中国女排会师,接受中国观众的助威与祝福。
"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 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 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.
"People always want me to come back home. Some said, 'Why not coach China women's volleyball? We love you. One day you will beat us and it will hurt our feelings.'
"I would say 85 percent of the people understood my decision and they support me as an international coach. After that I made my decision."
Lang, 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.
"We have a lot of female coaches in universities. I wish we had more female coaches in international volleyball."
As hard as she will try to guide the Americans past China, Lang 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 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 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.
She has seen a change in China's sport academies from her schoolgirl days, with greater emphasis on personal growth along with sport development.
"It's more open. Players can do a lot more things," Lang said.
"Divers and gymnasts start when they are really young and they spend a lot of time studying. They changed the system so the players have an education too." (实习编辑:顾萍)
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Chelsea doctor and surfing in Australia 切尔西队医与球队和解,澳大利亚冲浪
Glass-bottomed bridge, cancer risk for HRT and 120-year-old man 世界最长玻璃桥开放,荷尔蒙替代疗法增患癌风险,印度教120岁僧人
The cost of protecting the environment, Juno space probe 保护环境付出的代价,“朱诺”木星探测器
Off the hook 脱身
Hangry 饥饿成怒
There's method to my madness 我有一个不合常理的办法
Until I'm blue in the face 任凭你磨破嘴皮
The university of life 生活经历
You're pulling my leg! 你在愚弄我!
Burn a hole in your pocket 有钱不花难受
Cheap and cheerful 物美价廉
White / blue-collar worker 白领,蓝领
Pull something out of the hat 突施妙计
Indian state introduces 'fat tax' 印度一省拟征收“脂肪税”
Brexit and Hockney's art 英国脱欧公投后进展,大卫·霍克尼艺术展
The last/final straw 忍无可忍,使人最终崩溃的一击
To make a monkey out of me 捉弄我
To fall at the first hurdle 跌倒在第一关
India's sewer workers and British school standards 印度下水道工人施工安全,英国在校生学习成绩下降
In the blink of an eye 一眨眼之间
Drama queen 小题大做的人
Barefaced 厚颜无耻的
Alligator takes boy and Tate Modern extension 鳄鱼拖走小男孩,泰特现代美术馆扩建完工
Clean up your act 改邪归正
Crash course 速成课
In good nick 品质好、没有损坏
Earth-like planet, Pink cockatoo dies at 83 类地行星,83岁风头鹦鹉逝世
Cyclists make Olympic history, 400-year-old shark 英国自行车运动员创英奥运历史,400岁格陵兰鲨鱼
To turn something upside down 把……翻个底朝天
To make a mountain out of a molehill 小题大做