In a quiet town at the foot of the Swiss Alps, there is a unique 1,200 square metre villa, secluded and luxurious, surrounded by lush trees and rolling hills.
The owner of the villa is a former women's volleyball captain who has galloped on the volleyball court and won glory for the country. Her name was once the idol of every volleyball fan, and her story has inspired countless dreamers.
However, after reaching the pinnacle of her career, she chose to quit and live in seclusion abroad, away from the world of volleyball that once made her shine.
Yang Ceylon's legendary volleyball career
In 1982, Yang Xilan joined the Chinese women's volleyball team as a new recruit, a team that had already made its mark in the international volleyball world and was looking for new strength to maintain its competitiveness.
At just 21 years old, Yang Xilan quickly showed her talent and potential like no other, especially after Sun Jinfang's retirement, and she quickly became a regular and new hope in the team.
In the following years, Yang Xilan's career ushered in a highlight moment. In 1984, she participated in the Olympic Games in Los Angeles with the team.
That year, the Chinese women's volleyball team shocked the world with their performance at the Olympics, showing extraordinary teamwork and perseverance, and finally won the gold medal.
In the game, Yang Xilan became the team's scoring champion with her excellent serve, blocking and offensive ability, and her calm and powerful smashing, as well as her stable performance at critical moments, contributed to the victory of the Chinese women's volleyball team.
In the 1985 World Volleyball Cup and the 1986 World Championship, Yang Xilan and the Chinese women's volleyball team continued their glorious path.
During this period, the Chinese women's volleyball team not only has significantly improved its technology and tactics, but also reached a new height in terms of psychology and physical fitness. In these games, Yang Xilan has been exceptionally good, not only putting her opponents under tremendous pressure in the front row, but also showing her all-round skills in the back row with a pass and defense.
Her name began to appear frequently in major sports news and volleyball event reports, and became an indispensable member of the Chinese women's volleyball team.
With a string of successes, Yang Xilan's status in the team has become more prominent, and her influence has also increased. In training and competitions, she always gives her all and inspires her teammates with her actions.
Even in the face of strong opponents, she never flinched, and always stood up at critical moments to recover the situation or lock in the victory for the Chinese women's volleyball team.
This courageous spirit has deeply affected every player and made the Chinese women's volleyball team increasingly prestigious in the international volleyball community.
The transition from peak to trough
With the departure of Lang Ping, Yang Xilan shouldered the responsibility of the leader of the Chinese women's volleyball team, which is a challenging role change.
In Lang Ping's era, the Chinese women's volleyball team has achieved unprecedented results and has become a force to be reckoned with in the international volleyball community.
Yang Xilan, who has always been the core force of the team, now needs to lead the team to continue to move forward and maintain the glory of the Chinese women's volleyball team.
However, the 1988 Seoul Olympics dealt a heavy blow to this team, and the Chinese women's volleyball team failed to continue its previous glory in the competition, and finally lost to the Soviet team with superb skills and mature tactics.
At the Seoul Olympics, Yang Ceylam gave her all, but in this crucial match, she scored just over 10 points, a result that was far below everyone's expectations.
This game is undoubtedly a huge challenge for the Chinese women's volleyball team, which is accustomed to standing at the top of the podium.
The team faced not only technical and tactical opponents, but also internal and external pressures.
In the game, the matchup between the Chinese women's volleyball team and the Soviet team was full of tension and fierceness. The Soviet team has shown great competitiveness with its deep volleyball background and rich experience in international competitions.
Every ball scramble was filled with the smell of gunpowder, and the atmosphere in the audience became tense. In every minute and second of the game, Yang was trying to find opportunities to contribute more points to the team.
However, in the face of the Soviet team's near-perfect defense and fast and accurate counterattack, the Chinese women's volleyball team encountered great difficulties in attacking.
After losing to the Soviet team, both the Chinese women's volleyball team and Yang Xilan felt deeply lost. This defeat was not only a loss of a game, but also a deep reflection on the current situation of the team.
After this game, the Chinese women's volleyball team began a difficult adjustment period. For Yang, this is not only a challenge as a player, but also a test as a team leader.
She needs to find a way to motivate her teammates to overcome the shadow of defeat and regain her form and confidence.
Under pressure and choose to retire
The defeat at the 1988 Seoul Olympics was not only a defeat for Yang Ceylon, but also a serious personal challenge.
As a core member of the Chinese women's volleyball team, she has always had high expectations, and her performance largely represents the level of the team and the honor of the country.
However, the result of this competition has put her under tremendous pressure and criticism. The media and the public's skepticism have made her every day full of challenges.
The results on the court have been magnified and discussed countless times, and Yang Xilan's every move, every serve and smash has been repeatedly analyzed.
In such an environment, she felt unprecedented pressure. As a top athlete, she was incredibly strong on her heart, but this defeat and the criticism that came with it greatly challenged her self-esteem.
Despite this, she did not make any decisions immediately, choosing instead to remain silent and respond to questions from the outside world with training and competitions.
As time passed, Yang began to reflect deeply on his career and future direction.
She realizes that there will always be ups and downs and challenges, both in the world of sports and in life, and how to face these challenges determines a person's growth and future. After months of deliberation, Yang made the big decision to end her professional volleyball career and leave China with her husband in search of a new start in life.
In 1989, Yang Xilan and her husband silently packed their bags, leaving behind the familiar environment and former glory.
They chose Switzerland, a picturesque, peaceful country away from Asia, hoping to find a new way of life here.
In Switzerland, they are no longer in the limelight and do not need to be tracked by the media and judged by the public.
Here, they are just ordinary couples, enjoying a simple and peaceful life.
During her first month in Switzerland, Yang and her husband spent a lot of time exploring this new environment. They visited many famous sites and experienced the unique culture and traditions of Switzerland.
Slowly, they began to adapt to the pace of life here and found new interests and hobbies. Yang Xilan is particularly fond of the natural beauty of Switzerland, and she often goes hiking and mountaineering to enjoy the tranquility and beauty of nature.
The first challenge Yang faced was the language barrier.
Even though French was a new language to her, she didn't back down and saw it as the key to integrating into her new hometown and understanding a new culture.
She began to actively participate in French classes, continued to study every day, and soon was able to communicate in French on a basic day-to-day basis. Her progress is not only reflected in language learning, but also in how she has opened doors to communicate with the local community through language.
In the process of learning French, Yang Xilan got to know many local residents. She always had an open and friendly attitude with people and quickly earned the affection and respect of her neighbors.
Not only does she invite new friends to small gatherings at home to share Chinese tea culture and traditional food, but she also participates in community activities such as festivals and charity sales, becoming an integral part of the community.
A few months later, a local volleyball club learned that Yang Xilan, the former main player of the Chinese women's volleyball team, lived in Switzerland, so it extended an olive branch to her and invited her to become their coach.
A new life in Switzerland
After much deliberation, Yang finally decided to accept the position. She realized that this was a unique opportunity that would not only be important for her personal career development, but also for her and her family.
The Swiss side offered very good treatment, including a spacious 1,200-square-metre house, which made Yang Xilan very happy.
In addition, while accepting this position, Yang Xilan's husband Zhang Jianguo was also able to obtain special approval from the mayor and successfully obtain a residence permit. This is undoubtedly an extremely precious gift for couples who have just arrived in a foreign country.
Although the "Gett Volleyball Team" is not as well-known as the Chinese women's volleyball team, it also has a certain influence and competitiveness in the local area. The arrival of Yang Xilan has injected new vitality and professional training methods into the team.
She selflessly shares her years of experience and technical knowledge with her players, inspiring every player with her experience, and her coaching career is full of fulfillment and satisfaction.
Yang's work has been highly praised by the team and the local community.
Her coaching style is both strict and caring, and she is able to grasp the psychological and technical needs of her players, allowing them to grow in challenges and excel in the game.
Her love and dedication to volleyball, as well as her desire to win, deeply influenced every member of the team, greatly improving the morale and cohesion of the whole team.
In the Swiss volleyball world, Yang Ceylan's name gradually became known. She is not only the coach of the "Gett volleyball team", but also one of the spokespeople of the local volleyball sport.
Her successful transition has set an example for other retired athletes, showing that athletes can have a diverse path of development after retirement.
At the same time, Yang Xilan's husband Zhang Jianguo also received special approval from the mayor and successfully obtained a residence permit. This support and recognition from the local government made them feel the tolerance and friendliness of Swiss society.
Zhang Jianguo also gradually found his place in Switzerland, began to participate in local community activities, and established friendly relations with his neighbors.
Yang Xilan: The spirit of the old women's volleyball team supports me to face all difficulties[J].Women's Life,2017,0(5):7-9