From humble beginnings to cycling stardom
By Ni Yinbin |
May 20, 2012, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Female cyclists Huang Li and Huang Dongyan are putting Chongming County on the map. Huang Li has qualified for the London Olympics while Huang Dongyan, who is younger, may have an even brighter future. Ni Yinbin tells the tale.
Chongming Island is often a forgotten part of sprawling Shanghai. It's far from downtown and its people are sometimes thought of as simple countryfolk.
But two female cyclists from Chongming are putting the island in the spotlight. Huang Li, 23, has qualified for the London Olympics in the women's flying lap, points race, elimination race, individual pursuit, scratch race and time trial. Meanwhile, Huang Dongyan, 19, no relation to Huang Li, finished 15th in the UCI Women's World Cup on May 13 in Chongming and, according to her coach, has a bright future in cycling.
Huang Li has persevered despite a difficult childhood in which her family struggled to make ends meet.
In 1992, after Huang Li started primary school, her father lost his job.
"We don't have farmland, so we planted seedlings at other farms to earn money," Huang Li's mother says. "We only earned 14 yuan (about US$2.2 now) per day and had to raise two daughters. At that time, we were thinking to support Huang Li until she finished primary school and our mission would be completed."
The family started to farm fish in a pond and the future Olympian would help every day after school.
Her destiny changed when she was selected by an athletic school to join the cycling team. She was in grade three at the time. The school covered Huang Li's living and tuition fees.
With a lively and bubbly character and an interest in cycling, Huang Li was happy with the opportunity.
But cycling proved to be much tougher than she expected.
"We had to ride 80 kilometers everyday and it was endless," Huang Li says.
"I always cried while cycling to vent my emotions."
Despite these difficulties, Huang Li has never given up and now she is on the cusp of representing her country in the Olympics.
Wu Weipei, her coach, says: "Huang Li is good at sprinting over short distances but she still needs to improve her endurance."
Talking about the Olympics, Huang Li doesn't want to make any predictions. She simply says, "I'll try my best."
She recently had a big scare.
Huang Li fell during the first stage of the annual Tour of Chongming Island last Wednesday, falling hard right before the finish line. She struggled to get up and when she did, she trembled as she pushed her damaged bicycle across the finish line.
The spill has worried many of her fans, as well as her parents and coach, but a hospital check proved she sustained nothing more than scrapes and bruises.
True to character, Huang Li brushed off the accident, saying it is common to fall in cycling.
Future star?
Meanwhile Huang Dongyan is considered a rising star in women's cycling. Although only 19, she is one of the best cyclists in China.
In last year's National Intercity Games, Huang Dongyan won two gold medals - one in track cycling and the other in road cycling.
The youngest cyclist on the national team also won a title at the national track cycling championship last September.
Wu Wenze, her coach, says she has a quiet personality, but don't be fooled, underneath she has a strong heart and is fiercely competitive.
Wu recalls that Huang Dongyan once hurt her foot during training and she was advised to take a break.
"Even when you tell her not to train, she still insists on practicing," the coach says. "She looks quiet but she's powerful and energetic."
She finished the 120.4-kilometer race in Chongming in the 15th place, two spots behind teammate Liu Xin.
The women's national road cycling team currently ranks 25th in the world. If they can climb to 23rd in the rankings, one more Chinese cyclist will qualify for the road events at the Olympics.
"I'm not thinking too much of myself," Huang Dongyan tells Shanghai Daily. "Right now the whole team is focusing on moving up two positions so that one more cyclist will qualify for London."
Wu Wenze also expects Huang Dongyan to continue to improve.
"When she improves and has more experience, she'll have a good future like Huang Li," Wu Wenze says.
"Maybe she'll be able to participate in the next Olympics."
Chongming Island is often a forgotten part of sprawling Shanghai. It's far from downtown and its people are sometimes thought of as simple countryfolk.
But two female cyclists from Chongming are putting the island in the spotlight. Huang Li, 23, has qualified for the London Olympics in the women's flying lap, points race, elimination race, individual pursuit, scratch race and time trial. Meanwhile, Huang Dongyan, 19, no relation to Huang Li, finished 15th in the UCI Women's World Cup on May 13 in Chongming and, according to her coach, has a bright future in cycling.
Huang Li has persevered despite a difficult childhood in which her family struggled to make ends meet.
In 1992, after Huang Li started primary school, her father lost his job.
"We don't have farmland, so we planted seedlings at other farms to earn money," Huang Li's mother says. "We only earned 14 yuan (about US$2.2 now) per day and had to raise two daughters. At that time, we were thinking to support Huang Li until she finished primary school and our mission would be completed."
The family started to farm fish in a pond and the future Olympian would help every day after school.
Her destiny changed when she was selected by an athletic school to join the cycling team. She was in grade three at the time. The school covered Huang Li's living and tuition fees.
With a lively and bubbly character and an interest in cycling, Huang Li was happy with the opportunity.
But cycling proved to be much tougher than she expected.
"We had to ride 80 kilometers everyday and it was endless," Huang Li says.
"I always cried while cycling to vent my emotions."
Despite these difficulties, Huang Li has never given up and now she is on the cusp of representing her country in the Olympics.
Wu Weipei, her coach, says: "Huang Li is good at sprinting over short distances but she still needs to improve her endurance."
Talking about the Olympics, Huang Li doesn't want to make any predictions. She simply says, "I'll try my best."
She recently had a big scare.
Huang Li fell during the first stage of the annual Tour of Chongming Island last Wednesday, falling hard right before the finish line. She struggled to get up and when she did, she trembled as she pushed her damaged bicycle across the finish line.
The spill has worried many of her fans, as well as her parents and coach, but a hospital check proved she sustained nothing more than scrapes and bruises.
True to character, Huang Li brushed off the accident, saying it is common to fall in cycling.
Future star?
Meanwhile Huang Dongyan is considered a rising star in women's cycling. Although only 19, she is one of the best cyclists in China.
In last year's National Intercity Games, Huang Dongyan won two gold medals - one in track cycling and the other in road cycling.
The youngest cyclist on the national team also won a title at the national track cycling championship last September.
Wu Wenze, her coach, says she has a quiet personality, but don't be fooled, underneath she has a strong heart and is fiercely competitive.
Wu recalls that Huang Dongyan once hurt her foot during training and she was advised to take a break.
"Even when you tell her not to train, she still insists on practicing," the coach says. "She looks quiet but she's powerful and energetic."
She finished the 120.4-kilometer race in Chongming in the 15th place, two spots behind teammate Liu Xin.
The women's national road cycling team currently ranks 25th in the world. If they can climb to 23rd in the rankings, one more Chinese cyclist will qualify for the road events at the Olympics.
"I'm not thinking too much of myself," Huang Dongyan tells Shanghai Daily. "Right now the whole team is focusing on moving up two positions so that one more cyclist will qualify for London."
Wu Wenze also expects Huang Dongyan to continue to improve.
"When she improves and has more experience, she'll have a good future like Huang Li," Wu Wenze says.
"Maybe she'll be able to participate in the next Olympics."
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