Chinese diving diva Guo Jingjing won the award for the Most Popular Athlete the 2008 China Top Ten Benefiting Laureus Sports For Good award ceremony in Beijing, Nov.21, 2008. [163.com]

China's top Olympic athletes were honored at the country's most prestigous annual sports award cermony on Thursday in Beijing.

Gold medalist Zhang Yining received the Best Female Athlete award at 2008 China Top Ten Benefiting Laureus Sports For Good award ceremony, while gymnasts Yang Wei, the all-around Beijing Olympic gold winner, was selected as Best Male Athlete.

Seventeen-year-old Long Qingquan who won a gold medal in the men's 56kg weightlifting competition at the Beijing Olympics shared the Rising Star award with Liu Zige, who broke the world record in the women's 200-meter butterfly competition.

The Most Popular Athlete award went to Chinese diving diva Guo Jingjing, who easily continued her gold medal streak at this year's summer Games. Her relationship with the grandson of late Hong Kong business tycoon, Henry Fok, also has made her the most talked about star out of the entertainment industry.

The presence of veteran pop singer Na Ying was another highlight of the ceremony. Ying, who has been reclusive for a long time, sang one of her hit songs at the event.