Daniel Wang

Wearing a simple black dress and white Adidas sneakers, Wang Qihong walked into the room. Her short curly hair and cheerful countenance filled the room with avidity. It took me a moment to realize that she’s the interviewee; her look revealed very little about her story. “Reporters these days are so young,” she remarked. The mood lightened immediately. “You look pretty young yourself,” a TV crew said.

It’s true. I thought she would be much older, judging from the interview outline I read on the way there. With everyone seated, the film crew turned off the lights in the room and shone spotlights on Wang. “What are we doing, shooting a horror movie?” We all laughed, and I knew that this interview wasn’t going to be staunch and bland like I imagined. To my right, Ms. Tang, a reporter and my mentor from Shenzhen Evening News, started asking questions.

This interview I attended this week is part of a series called “Shenzhen’s History Through Stories,” where the growth of Shenzhen as a city is reflected in the growth of individuals. Today’s interviewee Wang Qihong (王绮红) is a former national champion and coach in gymnastics, and now administrator of Shenzhen’s professional sports team, which nurtures top-level athletes.

“So, tell us about your gymnastics career,” Tang said.

Wang was born in Guangzhou in 1976. She joined the Guangzhou gymnastics team at an early age of 8. When asked if she got homesick while boarding at the training facility, she said, “Only if I got sick or hurt, or during holidays.” Early in her career, she won a national competition. Wang said that it was the first nationals that she qualified for and she did not expect to win at all. “I was just excited to get out there and compete,” said Wang.

For training purposes, she moved from Guangzhou to Shenzhen. “It was nothing compared to Guangzhou; Shenzhen was like a village,” Wang recounted. “There was no one seen after sunset, and there was only one bus route.” Like the city, Shenzhen’s gymnastic program was brand new and undeveloped. Wang often missed meals because the cooks left early.

When she was just getting ready for another national competition in 1993, a sudden and unexpected blow brought Wang to her knees. She was diagnosed with cancer in her bones. Her right leg was amputated, and she was told she could never compete again. Looking back, Wang said that she didn’t think about it too much. The doctors said it was treatable, and she was fully covered by Shenzhen’s avant-garde, all-encompassing healthcare system. “Of course I was upset,” Wang said. “But I was happy too because I was lucky. Keeping my life over my career was an easy choice.” Wang saw light in what seemed like the dark, rock bottom.

Then she rose. She felt like she had to finish what she started and bring Shenzhen what it deserved — a good gymnastics program with successful athletes. She became a coach, the first in Shenzhen with an artificial limb. She said she wanted to feel what it was like to be the one giving orders, as she remembers often being chastised by her old coach. How the tables had turned. Soon, she realized that being a coach isn’t all that easy. “How do I convince them to practice? I’ll do whatever is necessary, whether that be appeasement or trickery,” said Wang with a grin.

She became irked when the media put her disability in the spotlight and interfered with her work, saying that she would rather focus on her work and serve her athletes. When talking about her athletes, Wang spoke with pride, describing them as “extremely self-disciplined.”

She transferred to administrative work and now serves 500 athletes across all sports. She noted that the team still lacks athletes, as the team’s number of athletes still falls behind many cities. The low participation in athletics sheds light on parental priorities and Shenzhen’s culture. “In Shenzhen, parents are too busy with entrepreneurial work. They are worried about their kids being injured.” Parents instead want their kids to focus on academics through lots of after-school classes and the arts like playing the piano. Part of the reason that sports isn’t taken seriously in Shenzhen is because athletics isn’t generally part of college admissions. In the U.S., a vast majority of students participate in after-school sports because colleges value well-rounded students. “The public definitely needs more education and awareness about athletics,” said Wang.

I asked for her thoughts on the state of sports for students. Wang expressed her dissatisfaction with P.E. programs in schools. “The coaches just gather the students, do a head count, and dismiss them.” Physical education, an integral and inseparable part of learning and maturity, is overlooked and not taken seriously in many schools. She wished for more structure and focus in the programs as they would benefit students in a multitude of ways. “Sports and academics are not mutually exclusive,” Wang said. She noted how schools in the U.S. let students out early so that students can participate in sports. Students learn and build personality through sports, namely leadership and teamwork. Wang said that Shenzhen kids today are generally self-centric and inconsiderate of others in an age where the family revolves around a single child. Also, she noted that student athletes have more opportunities than regular graduates.

In 2008, Wang was bestowed the honor of carrying the Olympic torch to the finish line in the Shenzhen relay. As she carried the torch down Shennan Boulevard, she remembered the palpable enthusiasm in the crowd.

Looking back, Wang reflected that she felt like she not only represented Shenzhen sports, but also the disabled community. She was touched by Shenzhen’s inclusivity. She later served as chairman of the disabled alliance and advocated for more accessible buildings and support for kids with depression.

“Describe Shenzhen in a few words,” said Tang.

“Shenzhen is a city with big love and open arms,” said Wang. She praised the city’s advanced and egalitarian social models.

Wang is a physical embodiment of grit, grace, and gratitude. Her positivity and continued service to the community exemplifies the spirit of Shenzhen — a true inspiration to the rest of us.