Sitting on a big sofa in a newly-decorated office at the Hunan
Provincial Sports Administration (HPSA) in Changsha, Xiong Ni, a
triple Olympic diving gold medalist, is deep in conversation with a
local businessman about future sponsorship.
Life couldn't be better for 32-year-old Xiong, especially as he
doesn't have to step onto the daunting 10-meter platform or watch
the every move of his arch-rival from Russia, Dmitri Sautin.
The former diver is the new vice-director of the HPSA, and his
success is opening a new door for thousands of Chinese
athletes.
"I think I am changing people's views about our athletes," said
Xiong. "Some think we have 'strong bodies, empty heads', so I work
hard to improve myself. I spent 20 years learning to be a great
diver, and now I want to be a good sports official."
One of the most recognized athletes in China, Xiong dominated
the diving world in a 13-year career in which he won three gold
medals at four Olympic Games.
Xiong won bronze in 10m platform in Barcelona in 1992. He took a
short break from the national team following the Atlanta Games in
1996, when he won China its first ever 3m springboard gold, before
coming back at the Sydney Games in 2000 to clinch his last two
Olympic gold medals in springboard singles and synchronized.
He retired after the Sydney Games, and became a low-ranking
official on the Hunan provincial swimming team. He worked his way
up the ladder, and in 2004 was named principal of Hunan Sports
College, home to the province's professional athletes.
Xiong made a major impact in his new job. He helped Hunan win
its first gold medals in wrestling, swimming and diving at the
Tenth National Games in 2005, and 11 of his athletes pocketed golds
at the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar last December.
"I'm with the athletes all day long. I know how they feel
because I was in that situation a few years ago. They believe in me
so it is easier to communicate with them," Xiong said.
Like his three Olympic gold medals, success as a sports official
did not come easily.
His appointment as principal of the college was widely
criticized due to his lack of experience. Some even claimed that he
was "living on his fame", as most retired athletes lack education
and struggle to find work in retirement.
Adding to the bleak picture, the college was six million yuan
($769,000) in debt when he took over.
"I think it was a great honor to be named a sports official
right after retirement. A job like this is the best an athlete can
hope for," he said. "The rest of my teammates just received a small
sum of money from their sports administration and left. Some of
them are now unemployed.
"But when I started my post in the college, it was totally
different from what I thought. Managing 14 pro teams and 3,000
employees was a major headache for me."
The diving champion was sent to Yiyang, another city in Hunan,
to study sports management, but he found a better way to kick-start
his struggling college - using his name.
"It took me some time to realize my world champion status is
worth a fortune," he said. "There was a time when I frequently went
to various companies asking for sponsorship. I was very surprised
that it wasn't that hard for me and my college to get money."
Xiong raised enough money from local companies to pay off the
college's debts, and now it has revenues of 10 million yuan each
year and employee bonuses have doubled.
Officials at the HPSA noticed his good work, and last month he
took up his new job as vice-director.
HPSA director Fu Guoliang believes retired athletes are a key
force in sports management.
"They have first-hand experience in sports and they understand
the players. That's very important for sports development," he
said. "I think it's very effective to draft some of them into the
leading posts just like Xiong. We all see he has done a great
job.
"Xiong is already role model for the other athletes, and he
makes them believe they can be successful in retirement."
Alongside Xiong, 60 percent of sports officials in Hunan are
retired athletes. Badminton world champions Gong Zhichao and Tang
Jiuhong and Olympic weighlifting gold medalist Yang Xia are part of
a set-up that has helped lift the province from bottom of the
National Games 10 years ago to top ten finishes at the last two
editions.
Retired athletes are even making their presence felt at the top
levels of Chinese sport.
For example Sun Jinfang, a multiple world titlist in volleyball,
is now guiding Chinese women's tennis to unprecedented success in
her role as director of the Tennis Administrative Center.
With an Olympic gold and two grand slam titles during her
tenure, it is clear that the players are responding to Sun.
"We have a lot of things in common, because she was one of the
most popular players in China," said Australian and Wimbledon Open
doubles' winner Zheng Jie. "She is very very strict with us, but I
want to listen to her and do what she wants us to do."
"She really cares about us, from prize money to our drinking
water during the tournament. It's comfortable being with
her."
(China Daily February 28, 2007)