• Original Hometown: Hebei, China
• Current residence: Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
• Titles: 1991 World Champion, Women's Doubles (with Chen Zihe)
• 1992 Olympic Silver Medal, Women's Doubles (with Chen Zihe)
• 1993 World Championships 3rd Place, Women's Singles
• 1994 U.S. Open Women's Singles Champion
• 1996-1998 U.S. National Champion, Women's Singles & Doubles, Mixed Doubles
• Highest world ranking: #3 (1994-95).

Since 1994, when she retired from the Chinese Women's National Team and came to the U.S., Gao Jun has won numerous titles in U.S. and North American competitions. Now, at age 30, Gao is still the strongest female player in the U.S., and represents the best hope for the first Olympic medal in U.S. table tennis history.

USATTM: What are your competitive plans for the future?

GAO: Year 2000 Olympics, definitely. I won a Silver Medal in the 1992 Olympics. And this time, I will go to the Olympics representing the U.S. It may be my last time to contend for an Olympic medal, and I think I have a very good chance. So I definitely want to work hard on it.

USATTM: Who do you practice with? How often? Where?

GAO: Currently, I don't have regular practice partners. Before tournaments, I practice with Todd Sweeris, Sean Lonergan or Sunny Li at the Potomac Country Table Tennis Club or Maryland Table Tennis Center.

USATTM: How would you describe your playing style, and what are your strengths and weaknesses?

GAO: I block with my backhand, and attack with my forehand. I don't really have any particular strengths or weaknesses.

USATTM: Some players say that your best weapon is placement. Do you agree?

GAO: I do pay special attention to placement, especially when I play male players, because I cannot rely on my power or speed to win points. I have to use my strengths to cover my weaknesses in order to win.

USATTM: When and why did you come to the U.S.? Did you decide to retire from table tennis when you came?

GAO: I came to the U.S. in January 1994, when I married my husband, Frank Chang. At that time, I was at the peak of my table tennis career. I understood that if I left China, I would say good-bye to my life as a professional athlete.

USATTM: Do you regret your decision?

GAO: Well, of course sometimes I think about the opportunities I might have missed. I have always been very driven as an athlete. Sometimes I think I might have missed a chance to win a Gold Medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. But one has to make certain decisions at certain points in time. I love my husband, and family is the most important thing to me. Although sometimes I am nostalgic about my life as a professional athlete, I think I have adjusted to life in the U.S. quite well.

USATTM: How did you get started in table tennis? At what age?

GAO: I started playing table tennis when I was five. My father was a table tennis fan, so he sent me to one of the best athletic schools in China. I really thank my father for this. Without him, I wouldn't have had my table tennis career. In China, athletic schools are special schools for training future professional athletes. Students in our school majored in different fields, including table tennis, gymnastics, and martial arts. Our school was a boarding school. Every day, after academic classes, we would train for several hours. My first lesson in table tennis was to learn how to use my paddle to bounce the ball against the wall without letting the ball drop. It was a great exercise for steadiness and control. After that, we went on tables to play, and older students would practice with younger students. Later on, we began competing with other athletic schools in the same province.

USATTM: When did you become a full-time player?

GAO: I was in the athletic school until age 11, when I was chosen to be a member of the Hebei Province Team. Because I was so young at that time, and because the Hebei Team was one of the top teams in China, I didn't get many chances to play national tournaments initially. However, I was playing very well and very consistent in national junior competitions. Nine out of ten times, I would claim the title.

USATTM: At what age did you make the Chinese National Team?

GAO: I entered the Chinese National Team when I was 16.

USATTM: How did the Chinese National Team select its members?

GAO: China has a very comprehensive system. The selection starts at the grassroots level. Athletic schools go to elementary schools and junior high schools to select students. Province Teams select members from the best players in athletic schools. And the National Team selects new members, usually when they are still young, from the best players on Province Teams.

USATTM: Was there one particular coach who had the biggest influence on you?

GAO: I had very good coaches all the way through. My first coach, who started coaching me when I was five years old, was one of the best coaches in China. He really had a good eye for selecting players with the best potential. Throughout his career, several of his students entered the Chinese National Team and became world champions, including Qi Baoxiang and Qi Baohua.

USATTM: What was life like for you in the years you were on the Chinese National Team?

GAO: We trained very hard. But I also had a lot of fun. Because team members spent almost every waking moment together, we really became very close. I miss a lot of my good friends there.

USATTM: What was the practice schedule and training like for the Chinese National Team?

GAO: The schedule was almost like a full-time job here in the U.S. Usually, training began at 8:30 in the morning, and ended at around 6 p.m. - with a lunch break, of course. Many players, including myself, put in additional hours in the evening. Among us, Deng Yaping trained the hardest. She always put in the longest hours. That explains why she is so good.

USATTM: How many of your teammates are still actively competing?

GAO: Although we are all retired from the Chinese National Team, almost all of us are still actively competing. For example, Chen Jing [former Chinese team member] is on the Taiwan National Team. Of course, most of us are now married, and have other jobs besides table tennis.

USATTM: What was the most memorable event that has happened to you in table tennis?

GAO: I played tournaments around the world for many years, and interesting stories happened almost everywhere. But my most memorable time was when Chen Zihe and I defeated Deng Yaping and Qiao Hong in the 1991 World Championships. That was quite exciting, because we had never defeated Deng Yaping and Qiao Hong before.

USATTM: In your opinion, why is table tennis in the U.S. still not able to reach the world-class level?

GAO: I think the U.S. needs a system that encourages and rewards youngsters who participate in table tennis. For instance, in China, youngsters who play well are honored, and there are a lot of incentives to play table tennis. I'm sure there are plenty of talented players in the U.S. We just have to give them enough incentive. Second, we need to give young players more chances to succeed. Let them play in important tournaments, and let them get more tournament experience. Some players may not play well in national tournaments, but they might really shine in international tournaments. We need to give them a chance and let them try. Third, we need to let people know that playing table tennis does not mean giving up academic studies. On the contrary, kids learn much more than table tennis from playing the sport. They learn to excel; they learn how to deal with wins and losses; they also learn how to keep calm under adverse circumstances. These skills better prepare them for life. Look at Todd Sweeris - he is an Olympian, and also a CPA. If we have more kids participating in table tennis, we would have a stronger team.

USATTM: Are you doing any coaching now?

GAO: Not really. But I look forward to being the coach for the U.S. Junior's Team. I realize that a good player does not naturally become a good coach, so I have a lot to learn.

USATTM: Are you interested in becoming the coach for the U.S. National Team?

GAO: No. What I'd really like to do is to coach juniors and watch them grow.

USATTM: Any thoughts on how to make table tennis a popular sport in the U.S.?

GAO: I don't think table tennis is not popular in the U.S. right now. Many Americans have tables in their homes. The problem is, most Americans don't consider table tennis a sport. They consider table tennis a form of basement entertainment. If we want people to get serious about table tennis, we must first begin a serious education campaign. Look at soccer. The American Women's Soccer Team reached world-class level in a matter of just a few years. And now soccer has become a really popular sport in the U.S. Why can't we do that for table tennis?

USATTM: You were a world champion, and were ranked #3 in the world in 1995-96. What's your secret? Can you share with our readers?

GAO: I have three words to share with everybody: PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. That's my secret. That's the secret for all the top players in the world. Let me elaborate on this a little bit. There are three elements a person needs in order to be successful in sports: diligence, talent, and opportunities. Diligence is the most important. I'm not talking about simple diligence here. I'm talking about diligence with motivation. You need to use your body, and your brain, in practice. When I was competing for the Chinese National Team, I had little notebooks that I brought along everywhere I went. I would review my notes on other players' styles before I played them. I've always treated each match very seriously, and I don't make the same mistake twice.

USATTM: Besides practice, are there any shortcuts?

GAO: Definitely no shortcuts. Table tennis requires a lot of practice. It's not a sport that you can simply rely on power and speed to win. You need a lot of control, strategies and skillful touches, too.

USATTM: How can one become a good table tennis player? What should one watch for in his/her training?

GAO: First of all, you need to spend a lot of time practicing. As I said, there is no shortcut. Secondly, you should never give up. Imprint that in your head - never, ever, give up! Be cool, and fight for every point. It's not over till 21. Thirdly, you must pay attention to basic training. It might be repetitious and boring sometimes, but it's critical. You have to learn how to walk first before you can run. Don't envy those fancy shots. They will come natural to you after you master the basic skills.

USATTM: You helped run the Potomac Open on November 20-21. Was that the first time you'd been involved in the running of a tournament? Was that a switch from playing in them?

GAO: Yes. I really enjoyed it. It was a switch for me. Now I understand how complicated it is to run a tournament. If time permits, I hope I'll have more chances in the future to be involved in running tournaments.

USATTM: Tell us about your family.

GAO: My husband, Frank Chang, is a computer programmer, and a table tennis fan. We live in Gaithersburg, Maryland. My parents are both in China. I have a younger sister who just graduated from college in China. She doesn't play table tennis, though.

USATTM: What are your non-table tennis interests? Any hobbies?

GAO: I like reading, watching movies, watching TV, and singing. Of course, I like shopping, too. Hey, who doesn't?

USATTM: You have a full-time job now - tell us about it.

GAO: I work for a satellite communications company in Germantown, Maryland. I really like my job, because it allows me to learn new skills. For example, I had never used a computer when I was in China. Now I am proficient in PC and the Internet. My boss is a very nice person. He really supports my table tennis career, and always makes special arrangements in terms of work schedules so I can play in tournaments.

USATTM: Thank you so much for accepting our interview. We wish you the best in everything you do.

GAO: Thank you. It's my pleasure.