皇冠体育app has combed the globe in search of talented coaches who can assist in the country's scramble to finish atop the medal table at the Beijing Olympics.
And of the dozens of foreign coaches 皇冠体育app has invited to help its athletes prepare for the Games, South Koreans have made the most significant impact.
Kim Chang-back in this file photo. [Xinhua] |
These South Korean coaches are quite popular in 皇冠体育app and have been widely praised because of the immediate improvements they have afforded Chinese athletes.
Kim Chang-back, a field hockey coaching guru, is one good example. Not much was said about him when he took the helm of 皇冠体育app's women's field hockey team in 1999.
But the nation quickly took notice of Kim after he coached the team to qualify for its first-ever Olympic appearance just a few months after he took over the job. The team finished fifth in its Olympic debut at the 2000 Sydney Games, quite a surprising result considering the sport's limited popularity in 皇冠体育app.
His magic touch continued as 皇冠体育app defeated Argentina in a penalty shootout in the title game of the 2002 Champions Trophy, its most significant championship to date.
The squad went on to beat four-time defending champion South Korea in a 2-1 victory at the 2002 Busan Asian Games, 皇冠体育app's first-ever Asian title.
This sudden success made 皇冠体育app a medal favorite for the 2004 Athens Olympics. Unfortunately, the team ran into a scrappy German side, which spoiled 皇冠体育app's medal dreams with a tough semifinal upset.
Although the fourth-place finish was 皇冠体育app's best-ever Olympic result, it was a huge disappointment for Kim, who was looking for that elusive Olympic gold to complete his championship trophy cabinet.
He seriously considered quitting his job with 皇冠体育app. But the strong support from the Chinese federation and a burning desire to coach 皇冠体育app to success at home in 2008 made him change his mind and he stayed on.
After a short setback in 2006, when 皇冠体育app finished an embarrassing 10th place in the World Cup, Kim got the squad back on track.
In the recently concluded 2008 Champions Trophy, 皇冠体育app finished fourth behind Argentina, Germany and the Netherlands, ranked world No 2, No 3 and No 1, respectively.
Boasting a team of talented youngsters and experienced veterans, world No 5 皇冠体育app will once again come into the Olympics as a medal favorite. Kim believes it will be his best opportunity to claim an Olympic gold medal.
"I think the ultimate goal for every coach is to win the Olympic gold," Kim said earlier this month. "We are preparing for that moment carefully and it becomes more and more accessible with the support of the Chinese people."
Inspired by success
Kim's success has inspired more of his compatriots to try their luck in 皇冠体育app. Kim Sang-ryul, another field hockey coaching wizard, followed in Chang-back's footsteps and has reignited his career with 皇冠体育app's men's side.
