“One, two, three, stretch!”: Former gymnastics world champion Sui Lu harangued dozens of students sweating on their mats. Like her, numerous retired high-level athletes collaborate in the rise of school sports in China.
In a spacious, light-filled training room at a Shanghai university, Sui Lu, a 29-year-old retired from the sport, leads a taper stretching session.
The young woman conquered world gold before achieving silver on balance beam at the London Olympics in 2012.
Although the students he trains today have more modest ambitions.
The classes taught by former champions like Sui Lu are part of a government campaign aimed at developing sports activity among young people.
And the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing (February 4-20) act as a catalyst for this trend.
“Before, people didn’t like sports. They were under pressure to study and didn’t have time to exercise,” explains Sui Lu.
“But now everyone understands the interest of sport,” he adds.
The Chinese State intends to reduce the school workload among young people, with two hours of physical activity daily.
A campaign that offers new job challenges to Sui Lu and other champions like her.
“Before, everyone thought that the only thing professional athletes could do when they retired was train other high-level athletes,” he says.
– ‘Natural instincts’ –
This promotion of physical activity is part of a broader campaign by the Chinese state to encourage a healthier lifestyle.
Some television programs considered “vulgar” or the addition to video games among minors have been subject to criticism.
The school system is very selective in China and encourages young people to spend little time on sports.
Many parents encourage their children to study full time. A situation that can have obesity, myopia or stress as side effects.
The 2010 World Junior Team Badminton Champion, Jiang Yujing now teaches at a primary and secondary school in Shanghai.
Many parents realize that “education is not the only route” to success, he says.
Now “they prefer to follow the natural instincts of their children and encourage them to release their stress through sports.”
One of his students, Song Xuanchun, says he feels a clear change with these new courses.
“Most of my friends are in better shape,” he explains.
A mother of two school-age children, Zhu Jing used to sign them up for countless private lessons.
Before changing his mind in recent months: “If they study every day (…) their thirst for learning will decrease because they will tell themselves that their efforts don’t matter, they will have homework to do anyway.”
Since the start of the school year, Zhu Jing says she has lessened her children’s workload, freeing up time for cycling or badminton.
In some blogs, however, parents express their concern that sport lowers their children’s grades in core subjects.
But as a sign of general awareness, different provinces are now adapting university entrance exams to give more weight to the student’s sports results.
“In my opinion, a child who likes sports is someone who is well physically and mentally,” says Zhang Meng, deputy director of an educational center in Shanghai.
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