Qian Hong, the first "queen of butterflies": The opportunity to study is rare, and it is necessary to experience | dialogue

In October 2018, Qian Hong participated in the 65th anniversary of the founding of Beijing Sport University. Courtesy of respondents

At the 1992 Olympic Games, Qian Hong won the women's 100m butterfly championship, the first women's butterfly Olympic champion in China, and the first "butterfly queen" before Zhang Yufei, Jiao Liuyang and Liu Zige. After retiring from the army, Qian Hong has been engaged in the promotion and popularization of youth swimming training, and has also studied in the postgraduate champion class of Beijing Sport University, and is a graduate of the 2004 champion class.

Beijing News: Are there many learning opportunities during the athlete period? How did you come up with the idea of applying for the championship class after retiring?

Qian Hong: Before retiring from the army, we studied while training, I was a student of Hebei Institute of Physical Education, and after training, there would be teachers who would go to the Training Bureau of the General Bureau to teach us. After retiring, the athletes at that time were either coaches, or they were entrepreneurs, going to the sea to do business, and the opportunity to go to college was actually very small, so I was very grateful to the leaders of The University of North Sports at that time and gave us the opportunity to study.

Beijing News: Is the application process smooth? Are the academic requirements of the champion class high?

Qian Hong: To apply, you must submit a lot of materials and certificates, and to conduct an interview, you must also have a recommendation from the State General Administration of Sports. My major is sports training, and each semester has a fixed time to concentrate on teaching, including English, which is quite demanding, and the graduation thesis must also be passed.

Beijing News: Did the study experience of the champion class help you a lot in the work you did later?

Qian Hong: I personally feel that it has helped a lot, especially after entering that environment, everyone's identity has changed, before the athletes were teammates, and when they arrived at the school, they became classmates and alumni. The purpose at that time was to gain knowledge and effectively combine the professional knowledge we accumulated when we were athletes with the knowledge of the school.

Beijing News: More and more athletes recognize the importance of learning, and want to say something to them?

Qian Hong: Athletes' careers have experienced unknown hardships, and it is not very difficult to adapt to the campus. Of course, athletes suffer differently on campus, more in terms of brain power, as long as they are careful, I believe that everyone can stick to it.

Beijing News: After graduating from the champion class, what kind of work are you mainly engaged in?

Qian Hong: Mainly swimming training promotion and popularization work, focusing on teenagers, will also participate in the popularization of professional sports training knowledge, as well as activities organized by the Beijing Sports University Alumni Association, such as public welfare summer camps, public welfare evenings, etc., to encourage more people to participate in sports.

Beijing News reporter Xu Bangyin

Edited by Han Shuangming, proofread by Zhai Yongjun