Former badminton world champion Li Lingwei of China never had the chance to compete at the Games during her playing career, but yesterday she won an Olympic 'gong' when she was elected a member of the organisation's governing body.
At the International Olympic Committee (IOC) committee meeting held at Grosvenor House Hotel in London, she and four other former stars, including former 200m sprint medallist sprinter Frank Fredericks of Namibia, were elected to the IOC.
In recognition of her new status, she was presented with an 'IOC gold medal' by the body's president Jacques Rogge. She received 83 votes from 94 members.
'It is a very special moment and a great honour for me as a retired athlete and coach,' said the 48-year-old from Zhejiang province.
'You can say it's some sort of compensation for what I missed in my sporting career, which ended without an Olympic gold medal because I retired from sport before badminton was admitted to the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992.
'I am also delighted to be given the opportunity to serve sport from another platform, a great platform.
'There were many quality players from my era but not too many of them have this opportunity.