六级阅读之中国运动健将谁带来了体育的改变.doc

Sports icons who lead a change  Editors note: In the recently concluded London 2012 Olympics,  HYPERLINK /sports/Liu-Xiang.html Liu Xiang disappointed his fans again, leaving a collective sigh, regret and doubt in China, but no matter how Liu performed we cannot ignore his contribution to Chinas track and field. Liu is one of a few Chinese sports icons who have huge personal clout. Chinas sports industry has entered a new era in which the superstars themselves become the absolute focus of public attention. Compared with the gold medals and honors the Chinese team has gotten, sports stars play the role of inspiring people and enhancing the status of their sport in China. The China Daily website will bring our readers an overview of those stars who once were, currently are or in the future will become milestones to change Chinas sports demographic. Editor: Gao Qihui  HYPERLINK /sports/Yao-Ming.html Yao Ming : Chinas ambassadorWhen talking about the Chinas super sports stars, Yao Ming, the Chinese basketballer who made a real impact in the NBA, is undoubtedly named as the first world-class and most influential national and international sports star of China. A Yao phenomenon emerged as he gradually grew in the NBA. Yao became the first foreign-born player without US college experience to be drafted as the No 1 overall pick in NBA history. During his nine seasons with the Rockets, he achieved career averages of 19.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game in the 486 NBA games he played. The Houston Rockets center became a household name in China since becoming the top NBA draft pick in 2002. Yao has been selected to start for the Western Conference in the NBA All-Star Game eight times, and has been named in the All-NBA Team five times. [ HYPERLINK /sports/2011-07/21/contenthtm \t _blank more] Yao phenomenon Yaos success sparked a nationwide craze for basketball. NBA China CEO David Shoemaker put a positive spin on Yaos bowing out of th