Lang Ping

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Lang Ping (simplified Chinese: 郎平), known as Jenny Lang Ping is one of the most famous and respected individuals in the history of volleyball. She was hired as the head coach of the USA women's national volleyball team on February 7, 2005. Her nickname is "Iron Hammer" (simplified Chinese: 铁榔头). She is considered by many a "national hero" in China and her name is immediately recognizable among Chinese over 30.

According to USA Volleyball, Lang Ping was a member of the Chinese women's national team that won an Olympic gold medal over the United States at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, a World Championship crown in 1982 in Peru and World Cup titles in 1981 and 1985.

In 1995, Lang Ping became the head coach of the Chinese national team and eventually guided the squad to the silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia and second place at the 1998 World Championships in Japan. Lang Ping resigned the coach position in 1998 due to health reasons. In the following year, she took the coach position in an Italian volley club. In 2002, she became an inductee of the Volleyball Hall of Fame in Holyoke, Massachusetts.