MARKSMAN Xu Haifeng became China’s first ever Olympic gold medalist in Los Angeles in 1984, and over the years, China has won 112 additional gold medals at the summer Games. Ever since Liu Changchun became the first Chinese athlete to participate in the Games, also in Los Angeles, in 1932, China’s Olympic sportsmen have been national heroes, acclaimed as much for their athletic prowess as for their role as ambassadors. But while athletes are the natural focus of public attention, their coaches are also stepping into the limelight, with unprecedented world attention being given to the country’s sports establishment. Having guided their athletes to breakthroughs in many events which would previously have been unpromising for Chinese athletes and teams, they are today recognized as China’s top coaches, and the driving force behind China’s quest for gold at the 2008 Beijing Games. MARKSMAN Xu Haifeng became China’s first ever Olympic gold medalist in Los Angeles in 1984, and over the years, China has won 112 additional gold medals at the summer Games. Ever since Liu Changchun became the first Chinese athlete participate in the Games, also in Los Angeles, in 1932, China’s Olympic sportsmen have been national heroes, acclaimed as much for their athletic prowess as for their role as ambassadors. But while athletes are the natural focus of public attention, their coaches are also stepping into the limelight, with unprecedented Having focused on the country’s sports establishment. Having guided their athletes to breakthroughs in many events which would not have been unpromising for Chinese athletes and teams, they are today recognized as China’s top coaches, and the driving force behind China’s quest for gold at the 2008 Beijing Games.