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UPDATED: September-19-2008  
Standing Behind the Gold Medalists
The bond between coaches and athletes is inspirational where knowledge and experience, as well as strength to strength, are passed on. For the reluctant coach Li Weipu, over 18 years it has become the bond of a family
By CHEN RAN

Bian Jianxian is pushed in wheelchair by her coach Li Weipu (Photo by CHEN RAN)

"The first impression that Li Weipu gave me was friendly and approachable, which was far from my impression of a coach," Bian Jianxin, a three-time Paralympic gold medalist in women's powerlifting told Beijing Review.

Born in 1955 in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Li trained as a professional marathon runner and later a weightlifter. He participated in several competitions at local and national level and then opened a small gym after retiring.

It was not until 1988 that Li came to realize that powerlifting, a common fitness program in gyms for strengthening chest muscles, was a listed medal sport in the Paralympic Games.

"I watched the TV and saw the match. I was so happy to see it, because I was good at fitness training," Li, coach of the Chinese disabled powerlifting team, smiled. "If I were there, I would win the gold medal for sure."

In 1990, Luo Zhiqiang, a disabled boy came to visit Li, asking for help.

"I was the only person in our city who was a former weightlifter. Luo asked me whether he could become my student and prepare for the national competition with my help," said Li.

"My answer was no, because I did not want to and never thought of getting involved in disabled sports. I rejected him twice. Upon his third visit, I was moved by his never-give-up attitude, so I said ‘OK, I'll be your coach and let's see what will happen'," he continued.

In 1993, the part-time athlete Luo won a gold medal in the World Modern Pentathlon Games for the Disabled in England. Li's attitude took a reverse change right at the victory ceremony.

"It was the first time I was proud of myself because my student became a world champion! It was amazing. So I said to myself why not keep on coaching," Li stated.

In the same year, Li met with Bian Jianxin.

"Her colleague introduced her to me. I was not biased towards disabled people, but frankly speaking, in my mind few of them were smart. Bian was an exception," said Li. "The first time I saw her, a girl of not even 20-years old, I had a feeling that she would become a world champion one day because of her cleverness."

"There is a common misunderstanding that the stronger one's arms, the bigger his/her strength. The truth is that smartness, together with good physical and mental conditions, plays a vital role in powerlifting. In other words, a smarter person could probably lift a heavier weight with minimum strength," Li explained further.

"I've been working in powerlifting for 18 years. Besides Bian, only a few athletes have smartness," he added.

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