Wang Liping attends a running event in the city of Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, in 2017. [China Women's News]
Former Chinese Olympic champion Wang Liping has been dedicated to professional training and rehabilitation programs for marathon enthusiasts since she founded her Legend of the Master club in March 2016.
Wang, 42, comes from a rural family in the county-level city of Fengcheng, northeast China's Liaoning Province.
She often took first place in running competitions when she was still a student at middle school. Later, in 1989, she went to Fengcheng Sports School, and received professional training as a race walker.
However, it was difficult for her to win a qualification for the Olympics or claim any medals due to the fierce competition from home and abroad in the following decade.
Despite the many difficulties, Wang set up her mind to fight for national honor, and after outstanding performances in three consecutive trials, she earned a chance to compete for China at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
To many people's surprise, Wang snatched the gold for China in the 20km race walk in Australia. More importantly, it was the only gold medal that went to the country at the track and field games that year.
Speaking of her success, she attributed her victory to her never-give-up attitude and hard training rather than luck.
Wang attended Beijing Sport University as postgraduate student upon resigning from the sport team. She intended to become a teacher after completing her academic studies, yet ended up securing a place as a coach at the school. She later recalled that the stay on campus allowed her to rethink her personal life and make an arrangement for her future.
She still felt satisfied with the position she was assigned, though not her top choice. After all, being a coach at Beijing Sports University means she can still work in a university environment and at the same time engage in the sports field she used to practice. What's more, it gave her more time to accompany her family members.
Wang was inspired to set up the Legend of the Master club two years ago when she saw the rapid rise in public participation in marathon events.
Since then, she has utilized her professional knowledge and rich experience to provide marathon enthusiasts with guidance in their running and relevant training in a move to further boost their enthusiasm, reduce the occurrence of physical injuries, and help them gain a sound recovery if they get injured.
According to Wang, professional knowledge and access to measures against any injuries in the process of running are more important than ensuing rehabilitation.
Wang said she has been working hard to acquire necessary expertise and find suitable partners in the management of her business venture.
She has also found lots of friends who share common interests in leisure running, physical exercise and physiotherapy over the past two years.
"I will focus myself on reachable targets at the moment, enlarge the scale of my business step by step, and eventually translate personal dream in reality," she concluded.