By Chen Anqing (陈安庆)
Nation, page 9
Issue 582, August 13, 2012
Translated by Tang Xiangyang
Original article: [Chinese]

Gold medals awarded at the London Olympics have a material value of about $700. But in China, the dividends they pay can make the athletes who win them set for life. This is especially true for 23-year old Yi Siling (易思玲), China’s first gold medalist of 2012.

Winning Gold

As soon as Yi won gold in the 10-meter air-rifle, fireworks started going off across her hometown of Chenzhou (郴州) City, Hunan Province. Pretty soon the small guest room of her family’s home was filled to the brim with reporters and television cameras. After four days, Yi Siling’ 90-year old grandfather had to lie down for an entire day to recover from the non-stop interviews.

Yi’s apartment is only 70 square meters. It’s poorly-lit with very old furniture. The only new appliance is a television given by a local TV station.

Yi Siling’s parents are both laid-off factory workers who support the entire family on money from the small restaurant they run. Yi has a little brother who’s also learning shooting and a sister.

A neighbor said that the family had been living in poverty for years; especially since Yi Siling began her career as a professional shooter.

“One air-rifle pellet costs one yuan and a shooting suit costs 4,000 to 5,000 yuan,” the neighbor said.

That was well beyond the family’s means. Luckily, a shooting team in Zhuhai (珠海) City, Guangdong Province invited Yi Siling to join without needing to worry about room, board or other expenses. Then 15-years old, Yi didn’t hesitate, but the years since have been tough. Yi’s grandfather told the EO that he avoided seeing her for the past two years so he wouldn’t distract her.

Huge reward

The gold medal has changed everything for the family. Yi Siling is now a brand name for her hometown of Chenzhou and for Zhuhai where she trained. It’s the first time for both cities to boast an Olympic gold medal winner.

Chenzhou will hold a high-profile ceremony for Yi and reward her with 500,000 yuan cash, a villa worth over 800,000 yuan and a 200,000 yuan car. The township-level government will give her a further reward of around 50,000 to 60,000 yuan. Tang Nengbin (唐能斌), director of the city’s township-level sports bureau said many companies are planning to offer her endorsement deals.

The Chenzhou city government is also planning to offer jobs for Yi Siling’s parents. Even her coach, head-teacher and grandfather will be taken care of.

However, no one has specifically mentioned what Yi Siling herself will do after finishing her time on the national team. Fan Jianping (范建平), director of the city-level sports bureau, said several Olympic gold medalists from Hunan later became officials in the provincial government. Former gymnastics gold medalist Xiong Ni (熊倪), for instance, is now deputy director of the provincial sports bureau.

The rewards don’t stop in Chenzhou though. For successfully “importing” Yi Siling, Guangdong Province will give her one million yuan and the Zhuhai city government will add at least another 800,000. Yi also received an email from the State General Administration of Sports just two hours after winning her medal saying she’d get a car worth 750,000 yuan from FAW-Volkswagen Audi (一汽大众奥迪).

For those keeping track, that adds up to a total prize package worth at least 4.1 million yuan (not including further endorsements and jobs).

Sport Changes One’s Fate

“I feel I’m a superstar now,” Yi said.

While she’s had to deal with numerous interview requests, Chenzhou Sports School (郴州体育学校) where she trained has been receiving calls from many parents planning to send their children to learn shooting.

“She can be a good example for shooting students,” said Zhou Jiguo (周纪国), party secretary of the school. “She also brings hope to poor students. Sport changes one’s fate.”

But Yi Siling is a rare case.

Another student named He Xian (何仙) was champion of the 10-meter air-rifle shooting competition at a championship for five provinces; but no one mentions why she’s failed to go further. “I still think He Xian has the potential to win glory for the country,” said Long Shoubai (龙寿柏), who coached both Yi Siling and He Xian.

He Xian is currently working as a street vendor in her hometown. She declined the EO’s request for an interview.