Retired sports stars target new goals

The "never give up" mantra familiar to every athlete provided important mental support for Gong during his transition toward official retirement.

"The inner strength I had gained from every loss had made me strong, and it supported me when I was in a trough, blighted by injuries," he recalled.

The former elite competitor said he eventually entered retirement willingly and with an easy heart.

Now, he is content with a new career in the field of sports education, and he said many of his sporting peers are also in a good place.

"I think Chinese athletes are really happy, at least in the field of badminton. Thanks to the training and guarantees provided by the authorities, our athletes produced great performances at the Tokyo Olympic Games this year," he said.

Many of his friends in sports have found post-retirement careers: some have become coaches, training the next generation of champions; some entered the world of commerce; while others have started businesses, in areas such as sports education.

"No matter what they chose, most of them lead contented lives as far as I can see," Gong said.

Academic adventures

This summer, Deng Linlin, 29, gained a master's after studying at Beijing Sport University and being an exchange student at California Baptist University in the United States. It's another step in the world of academia after getting a bachelor's from Peking University.

When she retired from gymnastics, the two-time Olympic gold medalist set out on a new adventure.

Starting at age 6, gymnastics training was the only thing in her life, apart from eating and sleeping. She couldn't even remember her parents' involvement at key moments in her life, she told People, an online news portal, in 2016.

After retiring from the national gymnastics team in 2013, Deng was recommended for admission to the School of International Studies at Peking University.

She found school life much more complicated than her rigorous training regime. The freshman was confused when she entered the college, having no idea of how to register for classes or even how to borrow a book from the library.

After gaining her first degree, the former high-caliber athlete was offered various opportunities, but she was unsure about her future.

When she started to explore her options, a critical-thinking class she had attended at the university inspired the young woman to identify her deepest wishes and express her own opinions.

She realized that with so many different possibilities, there weren't fixed answers in life, unlike the absolute compliance of the sports field.

One thing was for sure－she wanted to explore the wider world. So, she continued to pursue higher education in China and overseas, earning top marks in a different competitive environment.

She chose to return to a sports-based career. This year, she was appointed as a judge at an annual gymnastics event for teenagers. She will also join the Anhui Provincial Bureau of Sports and contribute to the provincial sports charity.

Gong and Deng have embarked on their new journeys with a sense of dedication instilled by their years as star athletes.

Despite leaving their familiar surroundings, they are determined to never give up on the fresh challenges posed by life, and they have once again become strong figures despite their sometimes difficult transitions.

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