In the history of Chinese sports, there is such a team that once shocked the world with their indomitable spirit and outstanding achievements - that is the Chinese women's volleyball team.
In the 80s of the 20th century, they won consecutive world championships and became a legend in the volleyball world. And among this group of heroes, there is a household name - Lang Ping.
As the core of the team, she not only showed extraordinary talent on the court, but also continued to contribute to the cause of Chinese volleyball after retiring.
However, in addition to Lang Ping, what is the story of those teammates who have fought side by side with her?
Cao Huiying: The transition from volleyball court to business
In 1982, as Cao Huiying's brilliant career in sports came to an end, she did not choose to say goodbye to the volleyball world completely.
On the campus of the Beijing Institute of Sport, Cao Huiying reappeared as a student, her daily routine filled with books and training, on the one hand, a thirst for knowledge, and on the other hand, an inseparable love for volleyball. At the same time, her role as the deputy director of the Bayi team gave her the opportunity to continue to be closely associated with volleyball, and although the job involved more management than personal involvement, her contribution to volleyball continued undiminished.
In the 90s, China was in the wave of reform and opening up, and all sectors of society showed unprecedented vitality and opportunities.
Cao Huiying also felt the changes of the times, decided to resign from her position in the Bayi team, and bravely entered the business world. This crossover is not only an attempt to challenge oneself, but also a grasp of the opportunities of the times.
In the business world, Cao Huiying has gradually gained a firm foothold in the business world by relying on her unique tenacity and determination to face various challenges and difficulties, and always maintain a positive attitude.
As time passed, Cao Huiying's daughter gradually grew up, and she began to think about her daughter's education.
Although China is her homeland, she hopes that her daughter can have a broader perspective and receive a more diversified education. In 1997, with the idea of finding better educational resources for her daughter, Cao Huiying made a major decision to move to Vancouver, Canada. This move is not only a change of location, but also a huge change of lifestyle and cultural background.
In Vancouver, Cao faced the challenge of readjusting to a new environment. From language to culture, from living habits to working environment, everything is very different from her experience in China.
But as she showed on the volleyball court, no matter how difficult it was, Cao Huiying faced it with perseverance.
Not only does she have to adapt to her new living environment, but she also has to pave the way for her daughter's future.
Sun Jinfang: Unremitting contribution to the cause of sports
In 1983, Sun Jinfang announced his retirement at the peak of his career, a decision that caused quite a stir in the volleyball world.
However, for Sun Jinfang, her chapter is far from over, and her retirement is only the beginning of a new journey in her life.
Leaving the splendor and hustle and bustle of the arena, she did not choose a comfortable lifestyle, but resolutely devoted herself to the ranks of sports management, and began another form of challenge and dedication.
After joining the Jiangsu Provincial Sports Bureau, Sun Jinfang quickly gained recognition from her colleagues for her professional ability and deep understanding of sports.
As Deputy Director, she was responsible for more than just one area of volleyball, her scope of work expanded to include many aspects of the sports career.
With her efforts, the sports industry in Jiangsu Province has made great progress, whether it is in the cultivation of youth sports, or in improving the performance of competitive sports, Sun Jinfang has left her own mark.
Subsequently, Sun Jinfang's career path continued to broaden, she successively served as the director of the Lottery Center of the General Administration of Sports of the People's Republic of China, the director of the National Tennis Management Center, etc., in each position, she has contributed to the development of China's sports industry with full enthusiasm and professional management ability.
Under her leadership, these institutions have made remarkable progress and achievements, especially in promoting the integration of the sports industry and social welfare, Sun Jinfang has made innovative attempts and contributions.
However, just when her career was in full swing, in 2020, Sun Jinfang was diagnosed with leukemia, which was undoubtedly a huge blow to her and her family.
But in the face of this sudden challenge, Sun Jinfang was not defeated. While undergoing treatment, she remains mindful of the development of the sports world and is as involved as she can in her work.
In the hospital, she often held conference calls with colleagues to discuss work, and although her physical condition limited her movements, her heart remained in sports.
Zhang Rongfang: The Art of Balancing Management and Life
Zhang Rongfang, this name has made an indelible contribution to the Chinese volleyball world.
As a former national women's volleyball team, her retirement does not mean a complete farewell to the volleyball world. On the contrary, she continues to dedicate herself to the cause of Chinese volleyball in another form.
After retiring, Zhang Rongfang moved to the field of sports management, and her work footprint covered the position of deputy director of the Sichuan Provincial Sports Bureau, until the position of the head coach of the national women's volleyball team, her career can be said to be fruitful.
In her position as Deputy Director of the Sichuan Provincial Sports Bureau, Zhang Rongfang has made significant contributions to the development of sports in Sichuan Province with her deep understanding of sports and rich management experience.
During her tenure, she focused on promoting the construction of sports facilities, optimizing the training environment for athletes, and actively introducing and cultivating sports talents, cultivating a large number of outstanding athletes for the sports cause of Sichuan and even the whole country.
Subsequently, as the head coach of the national women's volleyball team, Zhang Rongfang perfectly combined her experience as an athlete with her wisdom as a coach, she was strict with the players, and at the same time constantly explored and tried new training methods, contributing to the glory of the Chinese women's volleyball team.
However, years of high-intensity work, coupled with sports injuries accumulated in her youth, made Zhang Rongfang's physical condition decline day by day, and finally had to make the decision to retire early.
After retirement, Zhang Rongfang did not choose to stay away from the big family of sports, but lived a relatively low-key life with her husband Hu Jin, who was also a volleyball player.
The two live in a quiet community, and the pace of life has slowed down considerably, but Zhang's love for volleyball remains undiminished.
She is often involved in sports activities in the community, using her experience and knowledge to provide guidance and assistance to volleyball fans in the community, and in this way, she continues to pass on the spirit of volleyball in her daily life.
At home, Zhang Rongfang and Hu Jin's lives are full of volleyball elements.
Their living room is stocked with memorabilia from volleyball matches, and on the walls are pictures of them competing in the games as youngsters.
The two often reminisce about their time on the pitch together, with the hard training, exciting games and strong camaraderie with their teammates.
Although she is retired, Zhang Rongfang still pays attention to the development of Chinese volleyball, especially the national women's volleyball team.
Liang Yan: Be brave to start a business and write a success story
Liang Yan, in the glorious history of the national women's volleyball team, she is the heroic figure who sweats on the court and wins glory for the country.
After retiring, she did not stop moving forward, but chose a new path full of challenges.
Her transformation journey from a professional athlete to a journalism major, to a media job, and finally to a strong business woman, shows a unique pattern of life.
Liang Yan's first transformation took place after she retired. She chose to further her studies in journalism, a decision that was undoubtedly a huge challenge for an athlete who had been living in sports training for a long time.
Journalism requires a strong sense of curiosity, keen insight, and the ability to express words quickly and accurately, all of which are new skills for Liang Yan.
However, as she showed tenacity and perseverance on the volleyball court, Liang Yan quickly found her place in a new field with her own efforts.
After completing her studies, Liang Yan joined a magazine and began her media career. Here, she uses her expertise and sensitive insights into society to write a large number of popular articles with readers.
In her work, she often interviews people from all walks of life, which gives her the opportunity to be exposed to the wider world and gradually develops her interest in the business world.
In 1995, after several years of media experience, Liang Yan decided to transform again, and she chose the unusual path of entrepreneurship.
For Liang Yan, this is a new beginning, but also a decision full of unknowns and challenges.
In the early days of her business, Liang Yan faced all kinds of difficulties and challenges, from fundraising to team building, from market development to brand building, every step tested her wisdom and courage.
But as she showed on the volleyball court, Liang Yan was not intimidated by the difficulties, but overcame obstacles again and again, and finally her company stood out in the fierce market competition and became the best in the industry.
Zhang Jieyun: Contributing to the sports industry in obscurity
Zhang Jieyun may not be as familiar to the public as the sports stars who have been in the spotlight for many years, but she is an indispensable force behind the scenes of China's sports career.
After retiring, Zhang Jieyun did not choose to rest or stay away from the sports world, but decided to continue to dedicate himself to the field of sports management.
For more than 30 years, she has traveled to many sports management departments at home and abroad, whether it is in organizing large-scale sports events or promoting the development of sports, Zhang Jieyun has demonstrated excellent professional knowledge and management ability.
In her career, Zhang Jieyun has participated in the organization and management of countless sports events, and each time she has devoted herself to them, using her professional ability to ensure the smooth running of the event.
Her conscientiousness and responsibility for her work have won high praise from her colleagues and superiors.
When dealing with complex event organization problems, Zhang Jieyun is always able to calmly analyze and solve them quickly, showing her decision-making and execution ability as a sports manager.
The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, as a grand event in the Chinese sports world, Zhang Jieyun played an important role in it. She was not only involved in the preparations for the Olympic Games, but also as a torchbearer in the relay.
Dressed in the torchbearer's uniform and holding the Olympic torch, a symbol of peace and friendship, Zhang Jieyun's figure became one of the most beautiful sights of that summer.
Her participation is not only an affirmation of her personal career, but also a tribute to her contribution to China's sports industry for many years.
Participating in the Olympic torch relay is an honor and a responsibility for Zhang Jieyun.
She knows that every step she takes represents Chinese sports, the expectations and pride of hundreds of millions of Chinese.
On the road of the torch relay, Zhang Jieyun moved forward firmly, her eyes full of love for sports and pride in the country.
At this moment, she used her actions to show the world the style of Chinese sports, and also let more people see the people behind sports who pay silently.
Zhou Xiaolan: Cross-border development to achieve self-transcendence
Zhou Xiaolan's life journey, from a graduate of the Shanghai Institute of Sport to the director of the volleyball sports management department of the National Sports Commission, to an engineer and project manager in the United States, has reflected her unremitting efforts and courage to face new challenges at every step.
Her experience is a testament to her ability to learn and adapt.
After completing her studies at Shanghai Institute of Sport, Zhou Xiaolan successfully entered the work of the National Sports Commission with her deep affection for sports and solid professional knowledge.
As the Director of the Volleyball Sports Management Office, her responsibilities are not limited to the day-to-day management work, but more importantly, she needs to provide advice on the development of volleyball in China.
It was during the unprecedented trough of the Chinese women's volleyball team that Zhou Xiaolan showed her leadership and decision-making skills, and she successfully persuaded Lang Ping to return to China to coach, laying the foundation for the revival of the Chinese women's volleyball team.
The return of Lang Ping is undoubtedly a mushroom after a rain for the Chinese women's volleyball team, giving the team new vitality. Zhou Xiaolan's key role in this process is not only reflected in her decision-making and execution ability, but more importantly, her love for volleyball and her commitment to national honor.
It is this sense of responsibility and mission that made her make the right choice at a critical moment in the history of the women's volleyball team.
However, life is always full of uncertainties.
With her husband's decision to immigrate, Zhou Xiaolan is facing another big turning point in her life. For her, moving to the U.S. meant leaving her familiar surroundings and facing new life and work challenges.
But Zhou Xiaolan was not intimidated by the difficulties, and she began her life in a new country with her usual courage and determination.
In the United States, Zhou Xiaolan has not given up her love for sports.
She actively participates in local volleyball activities, using her experience and knowledge to provide guidance and assistance to volleyball enthusiasts. At the same time, Zhou Xiaolan also began her path of learning and transformation.
She understands that to succeed in a new country, she must constantly learn new knowledge and skills.
Through unremitting efforts, Zhou Xiaolan eventually became an engineer and project manager, and her successful transformation not only earned her a place in the new environment, but also proved that as long as you have determination and courage, you can transcend fields and achieve self-transcendence.
Du Ning,Li Yijun.Big data application research on the offensive performance of the world's women's volleyball teams and their elite players[J].Journal of Chengdu University of Physical Education,2023,49(3):85-90.)