Source: China Daily

08-15-2008 11:58

Special Report:   2008 Beijing Olympic Games

BEIJING, Aug. 15 -- When Chen Ying fired her way to glory in the women's 25m pistol shooting event on Wednesday, she had no idea her family was keeping a huge secret from her.

Chen Ying of China celebrates during the women's 25m pistol final  of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games shooting event at the Beijing  Shooting Range Hall in Beijing, China, Aug. 13, 2008. Chen Ying  shot 793.4 points to win the gold medal of the event.(Xinhua  Photo)

Chen's mother, 56-year-old Zhang Zhimin, has breast cancer.

Over the past two months, Zhang has been to hospital four times for chemotherapy sessions. Each time, she kept her visits secret from her daughter.

"My girl won the gold medal. It was worth suffering the pain alone for all that time," Zhang told China Daily yesterday in Beijing.

"I just wanted her to be able to concentrate 100 percent on her shooting. I know how hard she has trained for the Olympics over the past four years," she said.

After collecting her gold medal on Wednesday, Chen received a phone call from her mother, telling her what had been going on.

"It was really hard for me to admit that I had lied to her, even over the phone," Zhang said.