Chinanews, Jinan, January 25 – Many Chinese athletes find it difficult to face the new challenges after retirement, including many Olympic champions. Quite a few of them can't start a new career after retirement due to the lack of professional training,

 

For example, many former track-and-field champions, like Liu Li, are out of work.

 

There are also many former champions who have managed to start a brand new life after retirement. For example, Tao Hong, the former synchronized swimmer, and Liu Xuan, the world-renowned gymnastics champion, have become very successful entertainers. Li Ning, known as the “prince of gymnastics”, has set up a very famous enterprise. Some athletes have become coaches, or sports officials, like Xiong Ni, the former Olympic diving champion. Deng Yaping, the former table tennis champion, chose college education as the first step to realize her dreams in life.

 

However, those who are not that successful are not known by the general public, as the spotlights of media in China always focus on those lucky ones. In light of this,Deng Yaping has already handed a report to the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, on enhancing the necessary job training for athletes, to ensure for them a dependable future after retirement.