A Chinese volleyball legend is making her way back to China for her third Olympic Games.

Lang Ping has her fingers crossed on another miracle this summer in Beijing. But, the Games will no doubt be different for her this time around as the former Olympic volleyball player returns to Beijing as head coach of the US women's volleyball team.

"As a Chinese, it's a great honor for me to lead a team [to] compete in my home land for my third Olympic Games," she says.

It was Lang's remarkable career that drew the attention of the world's sports powerhouse, the United States. In May 2007, she was appointed as head coach of the country's Women's National Volleyball Team.

The job was met with controversy as concerns were raised about US players meeting Chinese players for international competitions -- and especially during the Olympics.

Debate raged in China about how Lang's coaching would seriously handicap China's chances of winning.

Still, a poll at the time showed more than 80 percent of local fans felt she should accept the job.

Although the 47-year-old Beijing native says she initially hesitated to take the job, she returns to China this summer with a renewed sense of hope.

"I am Chinese, and I believe the fans here will be very proud of me because I am bringing a great team here," says Lang. "If the US team plays with others, I believe the Chinese spectators will cheer for us -- and it (China) will be the second home field for the US team."

Apart from working to bring volleyball nets between the east and west a little closer together, Lang has done a lot for the sport in China.

In 1978, Lang secured a key position in China's national volleyball team at the age of 18. She helped the team win four world titles and two Asian championships.

In the 1980s, when Lang was recognized as one of the world's top three spikers, China won the World Cup and Olympic crown five successive times.

China's series of triumphs encouraged more Chinese to fall in love with the game, understand volleyball terminology and, above all, remember the name Lang Ping with affection.

Her outstanding talent and unparalleled spirit gained her an "Iron Hammer" nickname from fans -- as well as admiration and high expectations from millions of Chinese.

In 1986, Lang retired from the sport and became an assistant coach for the Chinese women's national volleyball team.

The team then went on to win the title at the 10th World Women's Volleyball Championship in Czechoslovakia and at the Asian Games in Seoul in the same year.

Following her stint as assistant coach in China, Lang decided to venture overseas.

She joined foreign volleyball clubs as both coach and player for several years until she was urged in 1995 to adopt the role of head coach for China and shoulder responsibility for leading the team out of its slump.

At the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, Lang took the Chinese women's team to silver, and is also credited with saving China from dropping out of the world's top 10.

(China Daily 05/09/2008 page10)