Now it's time for our special series - Movers and Shakers, in which we meet some of those who have made remarkable contributions to the Chinese economy and society, during the country's reform and opening up. China participated in its first Winter Olympics in 1980. But it wasn't until 22 years later that the country's first gold came, when Yang Yang topped the podium in the women's 500 meter short track speed skating in Salt Lake City. Now she is the first female council member of the International Skating Union. Here's what she has to say about her skating career and life after retiring.

World famous former short track speed skater Yang Yang, has so many titles after her retirement from the rink. In 2016, the two-time winter Olympic gold medalist, was elected as a council member of the International Skating Union, becoming the first female council member of the ISU.

Just as Yang Yang says, China is playing an essential role on the world stage in sports and other affairs. The sports industry, especially winter sports, is the epitome of China's economy. The PRC first participated in the winter Olympics in 1980 and won no medals. But after years of hard work, Yang Yang finally won the first gold for China and the nation also successfully bid to host the 2022 winter Olympics in Beijing.

Yang Yang was born in a small town in northest China. She started learning to skate in 1984 when China was in the beginning of its opening-up period. There were barely any professional sports training centers, but children like Yang Yang still found joy and success in sports.

Starting to skate at nine years old and being selected to the national team at the age of 20 is definitely not a good start, and Yang Yang was not the most talented on the ice, but she had something else.

Her strength to never give up while trying to be smart on and off the ice resulted in her success. China's economy faced lots of problems as well in the 1980s as the country had the world largest population and an unbalanced development between urban and rural areas. But the government sought development through twists and turns.

Yang Yang is still closely involved with short track as China's first winter Olympic gold medalist was also the first former Chinese athlete to become an IOC member in 2010. And now, she is the first female ISU council member. At present, Yang Yang is also president of the athlete council of the 2022 Beijing winter Olympics.

Through its 40-year opening up policy, China has become the world's second largest economy. Beijing already hosted a successful Olympics in 2008, and it will become the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Games in 2022.

Chinese politics, economy, culture, and sports are all booming. From its national fitness program, to marathon mania and 300 million people on ice and snow, the nation's sports industry growth has been incredibly rapid, especially in the last three decades. Not only Yang Yang, but every Chinese feels the change of life each day under the opening up policy.