Olympics: W.D.M.’s Chow returning to China as U.S. women’s coach

By NANCY STOCKDALE • nstockdale@dmreg.com • July 24, 2008
Liang Chow, once a celebrated member of the Chinese national men’s gymnastics team, will return to his native city of Beijing for the first time in 17 years proudly wearing red, white and blue.

Chow, 40, of West Des Moines, was named head coach of the U.S. women’s gymnastics team for the Beijing Olympics following a selection camp last weekend that completed the six-member squad.

It will be his first Olympic experience. He competed in the 1980s in the world championships, but never the Olympics, before coming to study at the University of Iowa in 1991.

It’s a great honor,” said Chow, who coaches Olympic favorite Shawn Johnson at Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute. “It’s a great responsibility, as well.”

Chow will work with U.S. national team coordinator Martha Karolyi and his assistant coaches, including his wife, Liwen Zhuang, to put together the lineup for team competition. Each team must select three of its six gymnasts to compete in each of the four events — vault, balance beam, floor exercise and uneven bars.

“It will not be easy,” Chow said. “But we’re up to the task.”

The United States, which won the world team title last year with Chow as head coach, is considered the gold medal favorite.

“The competition will be fantastic,” he said.

As will his return home in a position of honor.

“Coming back to China, this trip is big,” he said. “It’s the Olympics.”