Trailblazing champ excels off ice
From a humble ice rink to the Great Hall of the People, star political adviser Yang Yang has fully explored many career paths and shows no sign of slowing down.
If winning medals at the Olympics defines the pinnacle of an athlete's career, then former short-track speedskater Yang could have rested on her laurels long ago as the first Chinese to win a Winter Olympics gold medal. She won not just one but two at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States.
However, from what seemed like a perfect ending to her sports career, Yang has charted an even brighter career path since her retirement in 2006. She has embraced multiple high-profile roles, such as being elected an International Olympic Committee member in 2010 and serving as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
