Xiantao is a small city in China's Hubei province. It has about 240 000 people, and is typical of its size in most respects. The city is quiet, the people are traditional, and just as many bicycles as cars populate the dusty streets. There are no must-see tourist attractions in or around Xiantao, and it is scarcely mentioned by the tourist guidebooks. Throughout China however, the city is renowned for the staggering number of world-class gymnasts that it produces. At least five former world champions call Xiantao their home, and over the last three Summer Olympics, gymnasts from the city have won a total of seven gold medals.
Why is Xiantao China's Gymnastics Capital?
Two factors underlie the success of Xiantao's gymnasts. The legacy of local hero and six-time Olympic medalist Li Xiaoshuang bears mentioning first. At 18, he and his twin brother won silver medals in the Men's Team competition at the 1992 Games in Barcelona. In 1995, Xiaoshuang achieved individual success by winning the Men's All-Around at the World Gymnastics Championships. He followed this up with his crowning achievement: three medals at the 1996 Games in Atlanta, including gold in the Men's All-Around. In 1997, Xiaoshuang retired from competitive gymnastics and helped establish a gymnastics academy in his hometown. Today, about 100 of China's top 4- to 9-year-old gymnasts live at the Li Xiaoshuang Gymnastics School and train under some of the nation's best coaches.
China's policy on athletic development also plays a major role in the success of Xiantao's gymnasts. As stated by Louisa Lim, Beijing focuses on nurturing and developing elite athletes rather than investing in sport for the masses. The streamlining begins early. In kindergartens across the country, teachers encourage children to, in the words of one parent, "play around in the gym and have fun." Meanwhile, they are scouted by recruiters whose job is to identify youngsters with the greatest potential.
Such is what happened to 10-year-old Jin Tsu-Yu, who has taken the next step forward and is now living and training with Hubei province's top youth gymnastics team. He was recruited by Xiaoshuang's school when he was 5 years old, where he stayed for three years. As long as he continues to excel, all his expenses will be covered by the Chinese government. To Beijing, the costs of supporting these athletes from early childhood is worth the glory. According to Lim, China spends roughly US $7 million for every gold medal it wins, and between 1998 to 2008, the Li Xiaoshuang Gymnastics School received $14 million in government funding.
China's Young Gymnasts Dream of Olympic Glory
The fact that only the very best young gymnasts enjoy these perks, however, does not deter some parents from believing their child can become the next Li Xiaoshuang. Hwong Bai Gee is 8-years-old and is from a small town in Hubei. He is lean, muscular, and appears to have great focus for a boy his age. His mother says that Xiaoshuang is her son's idol, and that although he hasn't been able to crack the ranks of his hero's academy yet, Bai Gee still hopes to follow in his footsteps someday. Bai Gee currently lives and trains in Wuhan, but at the expense of his parents. He is not too old to work his way into China's pipeline of privilege, but at this point, he has tough odds to overcome. For Chinese children who dream of Olympic glory, its best not to be playing catch-up as a late bloomer.
It is undeniable that Xiaoshuang's success has inspired many children in and around his hometown. The students and coaches at his academy are good at what they do, but without downplaying their hard work and dedication in any way, Beijing's philosophy is also responsible for Xiantao being able to produce world-class gymnasts in such quantity.
Sources:
Louisa Lim, "Boarding Schools Generate China's Sport Stars" NPR 21 July 2008.
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