As a gymnast of two Olympics who is relatively older than his counterparts, Yang exhibits an irresistible attraction for journalists. Dozens of microphones surrounded the 28-year-old Yang at a press conference on November 9, held by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) and the General Administration of Sport of China.

In gymnastics, a sport of the young, Yang's age could be considered inappropriate. Other Chinese gymnasts on the national level have said as much. Yang-or at least skepticism about his fitness level-has reminded some of Li Ning, the former Olympic gold medallist once dubbed as the "prince of gymnastics." Li's astonishing setbacks at the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988 came as a huge disappointment to millions of Chinese people. At the time Li was 25, even younger than Yang is now.

Having won many championships at nearly all the major global gymnastics events, Yang has his eye on the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics. Yang and his teammates-along with members from other Chinese teams expected to challenge for a spot on the podium in events such as table tennis, badminton, diving and shooting-have the weight of gold resting upon their shoulders.

All factors point to Yang as capable of adding an Olympic championship to his list of accomplishments. All except for age. In November this year, Yang defended his individual all-round title at the World Gymnastics Championships. The win made him the first Chinese gymnast to defend this title. It was also the second time anyone had ever successfully defended his individual all-around title at the World Championships. The last time this was accomplished was in 1922 and 1926 by a Yugoslav gymnast.

Yang has also previously claimed double individual all-round titles, making him the king of kings in all gymnastics events. His efforts have put him on the same level as Li Ning and Li Xiaoshuang, gymnastics superstars in China and Yang's long-time idols. Right now, Yang would like nothing more than to claim Olympic individual all-round gold.

Yang's career has taken a more winding path to glory than his two elder predecessors. At the peak of his age, Yang unexpectedly failed to get gold medal at the 2003 Anaheim World Championships and also at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. At the most recent Olympics, Yang had a golden opportunity but surprisingly tumbled into seventh place during the individual all-round final due to heavy pressure arising from setbacks occurring at the team competition. After that poor showing, Yang fell from the media spotlight. Yet after that gloomy period, Yang brushed off rumors of retirement with a resolute response: "I will hold onto 2008."

The silver collector

Yang began his gymnastics career at the age of five and was placed on the national team at 16. Two years later he made a name for himself by taking second place at the individual all-round final at the Asian Games. Since then, Yang's destiny has seemingly been as a bridesmaid and never a bride, collecting silver medals instead of golds. From 2000 to the World Championships last year, Yang secured a glorious record of three team titles, but only managed to take two silver medals at the individual all-round events. He also came in second place at the 2005 National Games. These and his other silver medals at various apparatus finals branded him with the grievous title: "the silver collector."

"I cannot be clearer about how many hardships Yang Wei has pulled through," said Huang Yubin, head coach of the Chinese gymnastics team and coach of this obstinate student for many years. "He never deviates from his path once the destination is determined, no matter how hard it is."

Gao Jian, Director of the Gymnastics Management Center of China, echoed these remarks. The Chinese gymnastics team latches on to Yang's spirit as a means to inspire young gymnasts never to give up and to always press on with unyielding faith despite repeated failures. Only strong-willed people can attain this goal.

At present, Yang shoulders the dual responsibility of fighting for gold and leading the entire team. "Old teammates my age have all retired or become coaches, and I have to nurture the fighting spirit among the young," said Yang. "I must connect with their mindsets in order to better lead the team during training and matches. I felt lonely and uncomfortable during this transition period. It's much better now."

"He has matured and is an experienced role-model and brother to the young gymnasts," said Huang.

Li Xiaoshuang, once Yang's teammate and now a businessman, said, "I believe Yang will definitely lead the Chinese team to the championship podium and will claim the individual all-round title-his day is coming."

Gentle backup

Yang has never kept it a secret that he was motivated not to give up gymnastics by his beautiful fiancée Yang Yun, once a national gymnast herself. Yang Yun is best remembered for her bronze medal at the uneven bar event at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Nowadays she shows up on television as a guest reporter to interview star gymnasts like Yang Wei.

Four years ago, at the bottom of his career, when he thought about retirement, Yang Yun was close company for him. People were still wondering how she convinced him to return to the national team instead of retirement. As he tells it, she was the one who awakened him to a new spirituality of having no regrets and no grumbles. The process of training and taking part in matches should be the most important thing, she told him, not the final results. Apparently this philosophy wasn't difficult for him to comprehend, and even less difficult since it was coming from her.

On the eve of the World Championships this year, Yang was recklessly gearing himself for the event when he received a text message from her. It read like a mobilization order: "The upcoming World Championships is of great importance to you, but not greater than the ultimate goal-the Beijing Olympics."