Yang Yilin is a well-known figure in China and the gymnastics community. A successful artistic gymnast, Yang played a pivotal role in securing China’s first gold medal in the women’s team all-round event at the 2008 Olympics. However, her gymnastics career came to a halt in 2013 when she suffered a back injury. Ten years later, Yang is a doctoral student at the University of Macau (UM). Despite recently having a child, she has fearlessly embarked on her UM academic journey to broaden her professional horizons. Transitioning from an Olympic champion to a university physical education teacher and now doctoral student, Yang has discovered a new purpose in life: to help young athletes pursue their dreams.
Achieving academic commitments amid postpartum confinement
It was an early Saturday morning. While it was still dark outside, Yang gave her sleeping baby a goodbye kiss and set off from her home in Guangzhou towards the Hengqin Port. Her destination was UM, where she needed to arrive before 8:30am to attend her classes. Indeed, for quite some time, she had attended intensive lessons at the university every Saturday and Sunday. As a mother who was still in her postpartum confinement, Yang’s bag not only contained her laptop and clothes but also a crucial addition—breastmilk storage bottles.      
In addition to being a UM student, Yang also serves as a physical education teacher at Sun Yat-sen University, a position she has held since 2020. After working there for about a year, she realised that she wanted to be more than just a teacher—she aspired to play a more important role in sports development in higher education. Achieving this aspiration, however, required a broader vision and mindset. As a result, she carefully compared the advantages of the higher education institutions in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). After thorough consideration, Yang decided to apply for the UM Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) programme.    
When explaining her choice, Yang said, ‘UM has made great achievements in recent years. Among the higher education institutions in the GBA, UM has garnered exceptionally high reviews for its education quality. The DPA programme I am pursuing pays equal attention to theory and practice, which aligns perfectly with my needs. It will enhance my ability to address policy-related issues.’   
Shortly after Yang started her studies at UM, she received a surprise—she was pregnant. Yang recalled, ‘When I submitted the application last year, I didn’t anticipate having a baby. I certainly didn’t foresee starting my studies just two weeks after giving birth to my little girl. However, pursuing a doctoral degree would be another milestone in my life, and I didn’t want to miss out on it. Thankfully, my family was very supportive. They enabled me to start my doctoral journey and pursue my higher aspirations without needing to worry about my baby.’
Facing a crossroads
Postpartum confinement plays an important role in helping the mother recover from childbirth. Yang was no stranger to this knowledge as she had already experienced it with her first child. Moreover, her older child, still in a ‘carry me’ phase, has a strong attachment to her. Despite the challenges of caring for a clingy child and a new-born baby, Yang understood clearly that every DPA lesson was equally important. Without a background in public administration, she knew she had to put in extra effort compared to her classmates. Balancing the responsibilities of being a good mother and a dedicated student was no easy task. Each time Yang left home for a two-day learning trip at UM, she endured a great struggle. 
However, her unwavering belief allowed her to overcome these challenges. Indeed, ever since she joined the national gymnastics team at the age of five, Yang has lived a disciplined life. Regardless of scorching or freezing weather, Yang started her training every morning at 5:30am. This discipline continued even after she won an Olympic gold medal. It was only after suffering a back injury that she had to slow down and eventually retire from the national team. ‘Walking out of the national team building was an extremely sad moment. Even as I recall it now, my heart still aches. But it didn’t mean I gave up. I still believe that one day I will return to the gymnastics arena,’ Yang shared.    
Yang’s demanding training not only strengthened her physical abilities, but also her perseverance. Faced with a crossroads, Yang made the decision to pursue further studies. She hoped to seize every opportunity to improve herself.    
She explained, ‘The training I received as an athlete was aimed at helping me achieve an Olympic championship. But now my focus has shifted towards assisting athletes in planning their next career goals and transitioning smoothly to the next phase. This is related to the country’s comprehensive sports development and involves public policies. That’s why I chose to learn about these at UM.’  
Learning to interpret industry issues
The day of our interview also happened to be the presentation day of Yang’s team. As the team was presenting their report results on stage, sitting in the audience was the dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) Hu Weixing, and 30 exceptional classmates from different industries, including Legislative Assembly members, corporate leaders, state-owned enterprise executives, as well as officials of the Macao SAR Government and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. While their presence added an extra level of challenge to the presentation, Yang embraced the opportunity and found the process enjoyable.    
Speaking of her classmates, Yang remarked, ‘Our class is composed of elite individuals. Each of them is an outstanding professional in their respective field. They bring diverse perspectives to the study of public policies, making the learning experience more interesting.’   
After the morning lessons, Yang had only a one-hour lunch break before heading to Luso International Bank, where the afternoon classes took place. ‘The DPA programme offers a comprehensive curriculum with a strong emphasis on practical application of theoretical knowledge. We have the opportunity to visit different institutions and engage in exchanges with their representatives, which allows us to gain insights into the development of different industries.’ 
Despite the demanding schedule, Yang finds great enjoyment in the courses. ‘Every lesson is a brainstorming session. Professors guide us to approach and interpret industry issues from multiple perspectives and at higher levels. For example, the visit to Luso International Bank this time enables us to understand the connectivity between the financial markets in the GBA, as well as the formulation of related policies.’
Rethinking sports policies
Public policies affect every facet of our lives and organisations. Yang believes the promotion of sports development in higher education itself constitutes a policy issue. She explained, ‘Universities are incubators for society’s elites. In addition to improving physical health, sports, more importantly, teach students the significance of rules and how to handle failure. Therefore, physical education in higher education is an important component of whole-person education.’ 
To provide DPA students with a comprehensive understanding of public administration development in the mainland, UM organised a one-week study tour to Beijing in late October 2023. Led by FSS Dean Prof Hu and Associate Professor Wen Bo from the Department of Government and Public Administration, the DPA team visited various places in Beijing to learn about the city’s social development and public administration practices. The highlight of the tour was a visit to the National Academy of Governance. Yang said, ‘We had the opportunity to interact with experts and scholars in the school, which allowed us to gain insights into the evolution of the functions and institutional reforms of the national government.’
Having completed the first semester of her doctoral journey, Yang described the experience as fruitful. Over the past few months, she has gained a fresh understanding of public administration practices, honed her ability to analyse public policies, and garnered new professional insights.   
She emphasised, ‘We need policies and measures that are lawful, reasonable and comprehensive. It is essential to build diverse platforms that provide opportunities for students at all stages to participate in sports and perform their best.’
Helping young athletes pursue their dreams
Aside from devoting herself to learning, Yang also actively contributes to UM’s sports teams. She now holds the position of honorary advisor to the teams, where she offers guidance to students on physical training and techniques. This role also allows her to share her personal story with younger UM students. Yang expressed, ‘As an educator, it is now my mission to continue contributing to sports development, particularly in assisting young athletes in pursuing their dreams.’  
Yang continued, ‘The success of a champion is never solely attributed to the efforts of a few individuals. It requires a dedicated team working tirelessly behind the scenes before we witness a champion standing on the podium. Studying public administration enables me to address issues from a broader perspective. I hope to acquire more knowledge, so that I can synergise athletes’ experiences, knowledge, and perspectives with policies, and collaborate towards the advancement of the country’s sports development.’
Text: Kelvin U, UM Reporter Zhang Jiahe
English translation: Bess Che
Photos: UM Reporter Connie Ren, with some provided by the interviewees
Source: My UM Issue 130