Former Olympic champion Wang Junxia said on Saturday that she felt more proud as a citizen of the Olympic host country than an Olympic gold medallist.

The 1996 Olympic 5,000 meters champion held high a red national flag in one hand and an Olympic torch in the other when she opened the Olympic torch relay in northeast China's Dalian on Saturday, reminiscent of the Atlanta Olympics in which she ran a victory lap wearing the national flag.

Torchbearer Wang Junxia runs with national flag during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Dalian, city of northeast China's Liaoning Province, on July 19, 2008.

"Winning gold medal at 1996 Atlanta Olympics is a glorious moment for me, while holding Olympics in Beijing is the glory of the whole country," said Wang.

Wang used to be the best distance runner in China. Besides one gold and one silver medal from the Olympics, she registered many world titles to her name.

Wang stunned the 1993 Stuttgart World Athletics Championships by winning the 10,000 meters, whose world record is still hers. In recognition of her achievements, Wang was awarded Jesse Owens International Trophy Award in 1994.

Wang had also run the torch relay in Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004.

(Xinhua News Agency July 19, 2008)