Sensing the changes in China, Cheng started to look for opportunities after the 2008 Beijing Olympics. "We have to change the public opinion of the sport, and we've found it necessary to put the word 'happy' before gymnastics," Wang said. There is a huge gap in talent between China's national team and the feeder teams at the provincial level, said Ye. The system pushed China into top place in the gold medal hunt, peaking in the 2008 Beijing Olympics with 51 golds. It's a fundamental sport," Cheng said.

Source: New Zealand Herald July 13, 2016 03:45 UTC