Talent that go wasted .....

Yeah, it's really saddening to hear stories like that.Their government should at least set aside funds or stipends for them, just in case something happens like what had happened to that athlete.After bringing glory for their country they are forgotten.

Apparently this athlete has no connections. It wouldn't be so bad for him if he is able to pull strings and switch lines. But then again, from my understanding, many of the athletes in China are actually uneducated and may have difficulty finding other kinds of jobs. I think athletes have a really sad life, their moments of glory are often shortlived but their injuries and hurt follow them for life. Yao Ming is wise to retire at this time, to focus on the more important things in his life.

Such incidents have also happened in my country,India.There have been reports of former Olympic athlets and hockey players who had brought the country gold medals ,were promised land and cash by the govt but were totally neglected and ultimately forgotten.After many years they were found either begging on the streets or living a poverty-stricken life and on their deathbeds.It is a matter of shame for the govt to forget its heroes,those who had brought glory to the country.While the politicians fatten their purses with illegal money, these people who sacrificed their lives and families just so that they could bring the name of the country amongst the top sports countries are being completely forgotten and overlooked until some newspaper journalist or roving TV reporter finds out about their cindition.Only then when there is an outcry from the general public the govt awakens and tries to do something for them but mostly when it is too late.TThis has happened not only for sports persons but also for artistes of the past and many other people who have contributed for the good of the country.

I saw the news a couple days ago .As a Chinese ,i paid attention to the event .According to the report of CCTV ,the poor athlete made his own decision to retire and receive a proper amount of money after his injury .The once champion has changed his jobs for several times and been laid off for that he is not educated in the end .To live his life ,he perform on the streets of BeiJing .To my mind ,surely ,the athlete is worthy of pity .However ,it is not a matter about whether the government should support him when he lost his job .Instead ,it is a matter about how the government arrange Chinese atheltes'life in the long run .There is no denying that it is still a long way to go for Chinese government in terms of cultivating athletes.Hope such phenomenon can disappear in the future !

This difficulty is what a lot of athletes in China and HK are facing. I am not sure whether this is the case in the other parts of the World. To be an athletes, they have to retire before 40 and try to earn as much money as possible during their athletic career. I guess the athlete you have mentioned might end up in the same situation even if he did not have to accident. Therefore, more and more athletes are now encouraged to further study even they are already a super star in their career. This can ensure that they have more skills and can apply them after they have retired from their athletic careers. The HK government has sponsored some of its athletes for these courses. The athletes might take courses in English, teaching, business, management, etc. Therefore, some of the retired athletes became PE teachers while the others became successful businessman. I think the other government should support their athletes by sponsoring to acquire more skills instead of giving them money directly after their retirement from their athletic career so that they can earn the money themselves instead of fully depending on the government and other tax payers for the rest of their lives.

That's terrible that the former athlete had to do that. I feel that if this athlete couldn't compete anymore than he probably should have gone on to do something else. It's a shame. It doesn't just happen in China; it happens here too. You see these former child stars and singers who aren't making it big anymore doing little things just to get by because they're still living.

I think they did not appreciate potential that every people have and did not appreciate the merits and efforts too. People are God's creation and each of them is unique and also has unique abilities or potential that they should perform it.

For me yes it is that case if you find dis able because you can't do anything.

Sad to know the problem our former heroes ere having in a our country is just a reflection of what goes on in other countries. In Kenya, we have an Olympic Gold medalist in boxing who now stays in ultimate poverty because of negligence of the government... the only sign to show his truth line is his pictures taken by then- the former president included in the photo plus a headline that shows unfulfilled promises. Its so wrong for the government to promise something to an individual yet it cannot honor its promises. Even worse, there is nothing that can hold the government accountable for its failures.