Champion judo player uses brains as well as brawn

TIANJIN: The two coaches that have trained Tong Wen, the Olympic women's over 78 kg judo gold medalist, are unanimous in their opinion of her as an assiduous and disciplined student since taking up sport in her childhood.

Tong was overweight as a primary school student, which was why she registered for physical exercise at the Tianjin Heping Xinhua Sports School, her coach Guo Zhizhong told China Daily yesterday.

"She worked hard with me to lose weight and get fit, never once slackening or complaining," Guo said.