Li Xiaoshuang, a two-time Olympic gymnastics champion, has criticized the Chinese national gymnastics team's coaching staff following the team's silver medal finish at the Paris Olympics. Li believes the athletes should not shoulder all the blame for the team's shortcomings and has called for a fundamental change in China's approach to the sport.
Li Xiaoshuang, a two-time Olympic gymnastics champion, has placed blame at the feet of the Chinese national gymnastics team's coaching staff following the country's men's team's silver medal finish at the Paris Olympics.
Li believes the athletes should not solely bear the responsibility for the team's shortcomings at the Summer Games.
Chinese Gymnastics Coach Blames Staff, Calls for Overhaul
"Our team of coaches have issues. Let's not put all responsibilities on athletes. If they failed, the coaches did something wrong," 50-year-old Li said in an online live broadcast that circulated across Chinese social media, according to Reuters.
Li also called for a fundamental change to the country's approach to the sport.
Chinese Gymnastics Coach Blames Staff, Calls for Overhaul
"Our athletes are too old. Sports needs young people. We really need to change the way we train and select athletes," he said.
The average age of China's five gymnasts who traveled to Paris is 26.2.
Chinese Gymnastics Coach Blames Staff, Calls for Overhaul
Li first won Olympic gold in the floor competition at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and again in the all-around at the 1992 Summer Games in Atlanta.
Xiao Ruoteng, 28, and Su Weide, 24, committed some critical errors in the final rotation of the all-around event. The mistakes proved costly as the Chinese saw their three-point lead over Japan after the first five apparatus evaporate.
Li said he had a painful experience watching the Chinese team compete at the Olympics.
"After watching the competition, I felt so much pain. It was really painful. Good soldiers need a good general. China has a great gymnastics team, but we lack leadership and that's a problem," Li said.
"Su got the job at the last minute and barely had any training. We don't have anyone that is 18, 19 or 20 years old. How are we going to make it to the next Olympics?" said Li, who was 18 when he won his first Olympic gold.
Li argued that his country has failed to produce gymnasts who can compete at a high level on the vault since Cheng Fei, who earned gold in the women's team event at the Olympics 16 years ago.
"We are good on the beam and not bad on the uneven bars but how come our vault – I find it unacceptable! The routines haven't changed since '92," said Li.
Li's comments have sparked a debate in China about the future of gymnastics in the country. Some have called for a complete overhaul of the coaching system, while others believe that the team simply needs more young talent.
It remains to be seen whether Li's words will lead to any changes in the way China approaches gymnastics. However, it is clear that the country's gymnastics program is at a crossroads.
