"I felt honored, excited but a little nervous because it was the first time for me to attend such a big and important meeting," the 26-year-old short-track skate speeding world champion explained.

Yang Yang (A) won China's first ever Winter Olympic gold medal in the women's 500 meter short-track speed skating final in Salt Lake City during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games on February 16.

She broke China's zero gold medal record in the games since the Chinese made their Winter Olympics debut in Lake Placid, the United States, in 1980.

A week later, she won yet another gold medal in the women's 1000 meter short-track speed final and confirmed her No 1 status in the world with another 10 more world championship titles in other individual and team events.

Yang was born in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, home of China's winter sports. She started her skating training at eight years old.

She is billed as Yang Yang (A) to avoid confusion with her younger namesake and speed skating teammate Yang Yang (S).

Yang has won various honors for her world-level performances on the ice rinks, such as a Sports Honor Medal, State May 1st Labor Medal and May 4th Chinese Youth Outstanding Contribution Medal. Last week, she was named one of the top 10 distinguished Chinese women by the All-China Women's Federation.

Yang is now studying in the School of Economics and Management of Tsinghua University in Beijing while continuing her daily training.

Despite a busy schedule, Yang said she has set aside time to prepare for the forthcoming congress.

"I am attending the historic meeting, and it requires the best representation," she said.

(China Daily November 7, 2002)