“Jenny” Lang Ping of China is one of the most famous and respected individuals in the history of volleyball. Known as the “Iron Hammer,” she was a member of the Chinese women’s national team that won an Olympic gold medal over the United States at the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles, a World Championship crown in 1982 and World Cup titles in 1981 and 1985. Revered by Chinese fans, Lang Ping has been honored with her own postage stamp, had her wedding broadcast on Chinese national television and has stadiums named after her in China.

In 1995, Lang Ping became the head coach of the Chinese national team and eventually guided the squad to the silver medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. After leaving China’s national team program in 1999, Lang Ping was head coach for a number of championship teams in the Italian League including the Pieralisi Volleyball Club (Club Jesi). Lang Ping took over her current position from former Team USA coach Toshi Yoshida, who resigned late in 2004 to accept a professorship position at Biwako Seikei Sport College in Japan. She has been the head coach of the USA Women’s National Team for the past four years. Currently, she is guiding the team through the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Lang Ping was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame as a player on Oct. 18, 2002. She was also selected by the United States Olympic Committee as torchbearer on the Olympic Torch Relay’s only North American stop in San Francisco. She ran a leg of the relay on April 9 in San Francisco.

Learn more about Asian Americans at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“Jenny” Lang Ping the Iron Hammer in action

Natalie Coughlin, Rebecca Soni, Christine Magnuson and Dara Torres captured the silver medal in the women’s 4×100 meter medley relay.

Natalie Coughlin swam the lead off backstroke leg of the race at 58.94 seconds. Her other teammates swam the following times: Rebecca Soni (breaststroke – 1:05.95), Christine Magnuson (butterfly – 56.14), and Dana Torres (52.27). The total team time was 3:53.30. However, this was not enough to get gold. The Australian team came in with a world record time of 3:52.69.

With this medal, Natalie Coughlin has won 6 total medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She has won a gold in women’s 100 meter backstroke, two silver medals (women’s 4×100 meters freestyle relay and Women’s 4×100 meter Medley Relay), and three bronze medals (women’s 200 meters individual medley, Women’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay, and Women’s 100 meter Freestyle). She becomes the first female to win six Olympic medals during a single Olympic game.

Rewatch the Women’s 100 meter Freestyle here.
Learn more about Asian Americans at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Swimming highlights

By winning the bronze in Women’s 100 meter Freestyle, Natalie Coughlin has won her 5th medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The gold medal went to Germany’s Britta Steffen along with an Olympic record of 53.12 seconds. Australia’s Lisbeth Trickett swam 53.16 seconds for the silver, while Filipino HAPA Natalie Coughlin captured the bronze with a time of 54.40 seconds.

While she is not getting the media coverage of Michael Phelps, she is currently tied with Dara Torres and Shirley Babashoff for number of the Olympic medals won within the same Olympic game with five. She has an opportunity to break the record in her next event: the 4x100m medley relay.

Previously, she has won a gold in women’s 100 meter backstroke, a silver in women’s 4×100 meters freestyle relay, and two bronze medals one in the women’s 200 meters individual medley and one in the Women’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay.

Rewatch the Women’s 100 meter Freestyle here.
Learn more about Asian Americans at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Swimming highights

Natalie Coughlin captured another medal yesterday in the Women’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay along with fellow teammates Allison Schmitt, Caroline Burckle and Katie Hoff. They swam the following times Allison Schmitt (1:57.71), Natalie Coughlin (1:57.19), Caroline Burckle (1:56.70), and Katie Hoff (1:54.73). Total Time: 7:46.33. This is the first time the Americans have lost the event since it began in 1996.

Australians with Stephanie Rice, Bronte Barratt, Kylie Palmer and Linda Mackenzie got gold in 7:44.31 and setting a new world’s record. The Chinese team of Yang Yu, Zhu Qianwei, Tan Miao and Pang Jiaying took the silver in 7:45.93.

Natalie now has a gold in women’s 100 meter backstroke, a silver in women’s 4×100 meters freestyle relay, and a bronze in women’s 200 meters individual medley. Having another team win adds another medal to her collection.

Rewatch the Women’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay here.
Learn more about Asian Americans at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Highlights from swimming events