As the saying goes, "Once a teacher, always a father." However, who would have thought that a former Chinese Olympic champion would dare to reveal her coach as a "wolf in sheep's clothing"! Not only did he force students to take drugs, but he also repeatedly beat them. What is the truth behind this?
Born in 1969, Zhuang Xiaoyan began professional training at the age of 14 and entered the Liaoning Province Judo Team in 1984. At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Zhuang Xiaoyan won the gold medal in the women's over 72 kg category, achieving China's first Olympic gold medal in judo.
Her coach, Liu Yongfu, is also a well-known figure in the judo world. He was once a wrestler and later transitioned to become a judo coach, personally cultivating many top athletes, earning him the title of a "godfather" in Chinese judo.
During their collaboration, they were a perfect match, achieving remarkable results. However, a recent public dispute has completely torn apart this mentor-student relationship.
The incident began with several videos posted by Liu Yongfu on social media. In these videos, Liu Yongfu confidently recounted how he discovered and cultivated Zhuang Xiaoyan, even going so far as to say, "Without me, there would be no her today."
But these words infuriated Zhuang Xiaoyan, who immediately responded on social media, not only denying Liu Yongfu's contribution to her success but also exposing a series of shocking secrets.
Zhuang Xiaoyan's response was unexpected. In her lengthy post, she pointed out that her career success was entirely due to her own hard work, unrelated to Liu Yongfu. She also exposed multiple "unbearable" aspects of Liu Yongfu during her career.
Zhuang Xiaoyan said that during his tenure as a coach, Liu Yongfu not only failed to fight for more benefits for the athletes but also embezzled their bonuses. This statement directly shattered Liu Yongfu's image of "giving everything for the athletes."
Zhuang Xiaoyan further revealed that Liu Yongfu had forced athletes to take drugs, which not only caused side effects such as acne but could also potentially affect their fertility.
Liu Yongfu not only exploited the athletes economically and professionally but also subjected her to multiple instances of physical violence. According to her description, these incidents were almost an open secret within the sports team.
Liu Yongfu chose to respond to these accusations, emphasizing in subsequent interviews that he had a "clear conscience" and insisted that all his efforts were to enable the athletes to perform better. However, the public seemed unconvinced.
If Zhuang Xiaoyan's accusations were the first wave of impact that left Liu Yongfu struggling to defend himself, then the "fake fall" scandal in 2005 was another test of his professional integrity.
During the 2005 National Games, another sensational event erupted in China's judo world. Liu Yongfu's another disciple, Olympic champion Sun Fuming, suddenly stopped resisting in the women's over 78 kg category match, allowing her opponent to knock her down and lose the match.
This action not only shocked the audience but also sparked nationwide controversy, with public opinion quickly turning against Liu Yongfu.
Informed sources revealed that Liu Yongfu had a conversation with Sun Fuming before the match, suggesting she "consider the big picture" and not to go all out in the competition. Although this statement did not directly instruct her to fake a fall, the outcome raised suspicions about Liu Yongfu.
After the match, Sun Fuming tearfully admitted in an interview that she made this choice under pressure from her coach. Despite Liu Yongfu's strong denial of instructing a fake fall at a subsequent press conference, public doubts remained unresolved.
In the judo circle, Liu Yongfu's influence is undeniable. He not only cultivated top athletes like Zhuang Xiaoyan and Sun Fuming but also made significant contributions to enhancing the overall strength of the Chinese judo team.
However, Liu Yongfu did indeed engage in opaque practices regarding athlete bonus management in earlier years, and his wealth accumulation became a hot topic of discussion.
It is reported that he owns dozens of properties in Shenyang, and his net worth had already reached 50 million yuan several years ago. However, in interviews, he claimed that this wealth was the result of years of hard work and denied any misconduct.
As a coach, it may be difficult to judge Liu Yongfu's merits and demerits in just a few words, but the impact of this controversy has far exceeded the realm of judo itself.
Under the watchful eye of the public, competitive sports not only require achievements but also transparency and purity. Both coaches and athletes should remember the true meaning of the spirit of sports, fair competition, and full commitment. Only then can the future of sports progress further and more steadily.
In the sports world, we often see deep mentor-student relationships, with coaches portrayed as paternal figures. However, not all coaches are so gentle. In 2006, a coach named Wang Dexian had his misdeeds exposed, causing great shock.
Wang Dexian was once the head coach of China's long-distance marathon training team, nurturing many outstanding athletes. But who would have thought that this seemingly glamorous coach hid appalling misdeeds behind the scenes.
His athletes speak of him with gritted teeth, and some even shudder at the mention of his name. He embezzled the athletes' bonuses, beat them until they suffered fractures, and even kept guard dogs to prevent them from escaping. These actions are akin to those of a villain straight out of a movie.
Guo Ping, an athlete who loved long-distance running since childhood, suffered severe deformities in her feet due to training under Wang Dexian and was frequently beaten. Sun Yingjie's 4 million yuan bonus was also swallowed up by Wang Dexian. These athletes, who harbored dreams, were physically and mentally exhausted due to Wang Dexian's misdeeds.
Wang Dexian's misdeeds were finally exposed, and under the attention of society, relevant departments began investigating him. His wife, Zhu Fengling, however, came forward to accuse the athletes of炒作 (hype), but facts speak louder than words, and Wang Dexian's misdeeds had already been deeply ingrained in people's hearts.
Ultimately, Wang Dexian was stripped of his coaching qualifications and required to return the money owed to the athletes. This incident sounded the alarm for the entire sports world, reminding us that in developing the sports industry, we must not only train athletes' physical and psychological qualities but also strengthen the management and supervision of coaches.
The Wang Dexian incident tells us that strictness does not equate to the right to physically punish others. A true coach should be a good teacher and friend to the athletes, caring for and loving them, rather than sacrificing their rights for personal gain.
We hope that in the future, there will be no more black-hearted coaches like Wang Dexian, allowing the sports world to return to its purity and beauty.
Editor: ToT
References:
Chengdu Evening News - November 1, 2008 - "Judo Godfather Liu Yongfu Reveals His Net Worth, Admitting to Nearly 50 Million Yuan in Assets"
Headline User - Judo Olympic Champion Zhuang Xiaoyan