The road to Tokyo 2020: After hip surgery, volleyball coach Lang Ping is back in the game
At six feet two inches, China women's national volleyball coach Lang Ping commands respect and attention on the court. The first person to have earned gold at the Olympics both as a player and a coach, she has an impressive track record. But before returning to her courtside post to prepare her players for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Ping found out she needed a total hip replacement early this year. "My hip was really bothering me every day," she said, "so I thought, this is the time to fix it. I could barely walk normally, sit or stand without pain." Having coached dozens of players as current China and former USA national women's team coach, Ping has seen her fair share of orthopedic injuries.