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Name: Gao Ling
Born: March 14, 1979 in Wuhan, Hubei province

Beijing entry: Badminton mixed doubles

Career high: Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 mixed-doubles gold

Medal rivals: Nova Widianto/Liliyana Natsir (Indonesia), Nathan Robertson/Gail Emms (Britain)

In a sports system which places high value on major titles, Gao Ling is considered  a role model for many good reasons. 

Boasting a staggering 14  major trophies, including two Olympic gold medals, Gao - the most productive Chinese player in history - may have a lower profile than lovebirds Lin Dan and Xie Xingfang, but within the team she enjoys equal status.

Unlike many mainland sports officials convinced of the benefits of a spartan lifestyle for athletes, badminton head coach Li Yongbo has endorsed the blossoming of romance in his squad. His theory? Romance adds colour to life in training camps, and the resulting media attention means better sponsorship deals. 


 This approach suits Gao perfectly, as she has also dated a teammate. Her romance with former men's number one Chen Hong fizzled out in 2006 but, curiously, the crest of her career was closely linked with another male teammate.  


Less than 17 months after first teaming  with doubles specialist Zhang Jun, Gao emerged as part of the surprise package of the 2000 Olympic mixed-doubles competition who stormed to the top of the podium.


The duo swept through the 2001 world championships and fired China to  Surdiman Cup victory in the same year, but then Gao switched her priority to women's doubles. Just as everyone was beginning to think the 2000 miracle was  a one-off, Gao and Zhang re-emerged to defend their title in Athens.


'We were like brother and sister,' Gao told Badminton magazine. 'I can't imagine winning if I'd been with a different partner.'


Gao is going to have to face up to exactly this situation  in Beijing, as Zhang retired last year with a shoulder injury. She has no shortage of motivation. Another gold medal would make her the first to score an Olympic hat-trick since badminton became a full competition sport in 1992.


Her partner this year will be Zheng Bo. The duo signalled their intent - and status as favourites - with a win at the 2006 Doha Asian Games and have stood at the top of the mixed-doubles rankings since. 


'In a normal mixed team, the male player calls the shots, but in our case Gao controls everything,' Zheng, three years her junior,  told Xinhua. 'I just wish I could do more to take some of the burden off her back.'





No 41: Gao Ling