 Lang bids farewell to Stars and Stripes
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-11-27 08:08  Lang Ping is unlikely to return to China to head up its women's volleyball team despite turning down an offer to extend her contract with the US squad on Tuesday after leading it to a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics. Instead, the "Iron Hammer," as she was known in her playing days, wants to return to club volleyball to allow her more quality time at home. "At this moment in my life, family comes first and I wish for more flexibility to spend time with them," the 47-year-old Hall of Famer was quoted as saying on the official website of USA Volleyball. "I prefer a club volleyball season that lasts five months so that I can spend the other seven months of the year with them." Local officials also played down any possibility of her return, with some comments suggesting that her methods would not be as welcome as they once were. "I do not think Lang will come home and coach China again (her) coaching style does not fit the training system in China anymore," said Wei Jizhong, the Chinese president of volleyball's world governing body FIVB. "And as far as I know, the Chinese Volleyball Association has not invited her (back)." Lang, a national icon in China, was a key reason the team won an Olympic gold medal at the Los Angeles Games in 1984. As coach, she steered China to silver at another US-based Olympic Games, Atlanta 1996, before quitting three years later. She went on to serve out successful coaching stints in Italy (six years) and the US, where she replaced Japan's Toshi Yoshida in 2005. Draped in the colors of red, white and blue, she edged one spot ahead of China at the Beijing Games this August but saw her much-publicized gold-medal quest thwarted by champions Brazil. Not that her team, stocked with eight Olympic veterans, was overly disappointed - the US only managed to finish fifth at Sydney 2000 and fourth in Athens.
"I want to thank USA Volleyball for allowing me this opportunity," she said on the website posting this week. "It was a very challenging job with the many differences in system and culture compared to the Chinese system. Yet I learned a lot and appreciate this rewarding experience." Lang went 90-49 as the US coach, including a five-set victory over China in Beijing Olympic play, and victories over Italy and Cuba in the Olympic playoffs. Speaking of her Beijing Games experiences, Lang said she felt the tension of coaching against her homeland. "Although I was somewhat torn with my allegiance to China, it was very satisfying professionally to lead this team to the 2008 Olympic Games silver medal in my home country and also witness China earn the bronze," she said. But she admitted the competitive level of professional volleyball these days would make it more difficult for China to repeat its success of the 1980s, when the country swept five consecutive world titles. "It's very difficult to regain that dominance. Modern volleyball asks for more strength and speed than when we played. It's extremely competitive among the world's top teams," Lang said. "And the one-point system also closes the gap and results in more upsets in big tournaments." Sad to see her go US officials were full of praise for what Lang managed to accomplish in four years. "USA volleyball is very fortunate to have had Jenny leading our program," executive officer Doug Beal said. "We respect her decision to devote more of her life to family while remaining in the coaching profession. She really performed magnificently under difficult situations." Lang was the only female head coach among the top 20 countries listed in the FIVB world rankings and only one other woman, Hungary's Gabriella Kotsis, has led teams into multiple Olympics. "Jenny has been a winner at every stage of her volleyball career," Beal said. "We are so very lucky to have had her these past four years, not only for her qualities as a coach, but also for being such a great leader and role model for our program and athletes." According to Beal, USA Volleyball intends to act quickly in finding a new head coach for the program. China Daily/AFP (China Daily 11/27/2008 page23) |
