Chongqing - This September, as schools reopened after the summer vacation across China, Li Xuerui, a former Olympic badminton champion from Chongqing, assumed a new role as honorary principal of Yucai Xuerui School in Dadukou District, Chongqing.
Entrance of Yucai Xuerui School. (Photo/Shangyou News)
Li aims to train top athletes and create a model institution integrating sports and education nationwide. A former athlete who has served as a member of the Chongqing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and associate professor at the College of Physical Education of Chongqing University, Li is taking on a new path to inspire and guide young students through sports.
Promoting sports and education
Yucai Xuerui School, a nine-year public institution, brings together two educational groups: Yucai Elementary and High School Affiliated to Southwest University. Through a tightly integrated approach, the school enables a synchronized curriculum, resources, teaching methods, and management. At the heart of the school is the Chongqing Li Xuerui Sports School, where students can receive both general and specialized sports training, with dedicated athletic classes open for nationwide enrollment.
"Sports have always been my passion, and I want to continue to promote it," Li said in an interview, noting how societal attention to youth sports helped inspire the school’s establishment. For Li, the school represents both a continuation of Chongqing's longstanding commitment to integrating sports and education and a return to her own roots as a ‘product’ of similar programs.
A corner of Yucai Xuerui School's campus featuring Li Xuerui's message for the students. (Photo/Shangyou News)
Designed to support diverse athletic ambitions, Yucai Xuerui School has facilities for sports such as badminton, basketball, swimming, and fencing, supported by specialized gyms and digital fitness tracking systems. Li believes in setting a consistent standard across all physical activities, ensuring both beginners and advanced athletes receive proper guidance. "Regardless of whether a student pursues athletics professionally, everyone should have access to structured, safe training."
While some may expect an Olympic champion’s school to produce elite athletes solely, Li’s focus is broader. "Olympic dreams are wonderful and worth striving for, but they aren't the only measure of success. I hope each child can pursue their best self and live with pride, much like I once did," she stated. For Li, the aim is to nurture students’ individual strengths, allowing them to find a fulfilling path in sports or otherwise.
A drive to support future generations
Since retiring in 2019, Li has dedicated her time to the school's development, aiming to create an environment that blends academics with professional training under one roof. The school’s design—a connected layout with sheltered walkways between buildings—facilitates easy movement between academic and athletic spaces, regardless of weather conditions.
For Li, developing young people’s character through sports is a priority. Her vision includes creating a foundation for students to become well-rounded scholar-athletes. With sports training incorporated into the daily routine, all students will have a chance to grow through both academic and athletic channels.
Li’s ultimate goal is to set an example for sports-education integration, one that she believes could reach beyond Chongqing, recruiting talented students nationwide, including those from rural areas. "We want to help children from all backgrounds achieve better futures through sports," Li emphasized, noting the strong physical potential she sees among children from the mountainous regions of Chongqing.
Yucai Xuerui School's "connected corridor" design unifies all areas. (Photo/Shangyou News)
While juggling new responsibilities, Li admits the demands of running a school are vastly different from those of being an athlete. "The pressure is immense, but it’s also motivating," she remarked. From managing facility planning to ensuring a positive experience for students and their families, Li is committed to making the school a supportive environment. She hopes her presence as "Sister Xuerui" will help create a bond with students, breaking down barriers and fostering a spirit of community and shared ambition.
As the new semester unfolds, Li’s aspirations go beyond just producing champions; she is building a school where young people can grow in character, pursue their potential, and find pride in their achievements, whether in sports or in life.
(Bao Jing, Qian Bo, and Zhang Jinqi, reporters from Shangyou News, contributed the Chinese version of this report.)