China's fittest man

Tsinghua University professor Ma Yuehan was a physical education pioneer, Chen Xiangfeng writes.

He was once described by former Chinese leader Mao Zedong as the "nation's healthiest person".

He created the slogan: "Be healthy and work for the motherland for 50 years", which is still popular among Chinese people today.

His name is Ma Yuehan, a pioneer of modern Chinese sports.

He was a prime example of that popular slogan when he was a professor of physical education at Tsinghua University for 52 years (1914-1966).

This year is the 130th anniversary of his birth, and his spirit and influence are still felt.

"I still remember the first day I became a student of Ma," said Wang Guanglun, a professor at Tsinghua University and an expert in hydraulic structure engineering.

"He did not give his first lesson on the playground, but instead showed all of us into the big hall. He stood on the stage and raised his hands, asking us to do what he did and shout 'move on and move on'.

"His passion and love of sports inspired every student on campus. We spent lots of time playing different sports."

Wang was the captain of Tsinghua University's basketball team in the late 1950s and the healthy body he acquired through sports helped him in his professional life.

"Some people might question if it is worth spending time on sports rather than on your research.

"We should take a look at the whole picture. You spend time on sports, you become healthy and you do not have to go to the hospital time and time again when you are getting old.

"For me, doing sports made my work more efficient and it was really worth following Ma's instructions to 'move on'."

Born in 1882, Ma went to St. John's University in Shanghai in 1904, where he held a key role in the school's sports delegation.

He was a member of the athletics, soccer, tennis, baseball and swimming teams.

He started his teaching career in 1914 as an instructor in English and chemistry and began to focus on physical education in 1919.

He used his vacations in 1919 and 1925 to go to the United States' Springfield College to further his physical education studies.

During that time, he replaced an American to become the director of the sports department in Tsinghua and made a number of major reforms.

In a short time, Tsinghua set more than 20 national records.

Since then, Tsinghua has established itself as a sports powerhouse among China's universities and produced a number of world-class athletes.

In memory of his contribution to sports education, Tsinghua awards the Ma Yuehan Cup at its annual sports meeting, which now boasts 42 events.

"It's a tradition to play sports at Tsinghua," said Hu Kai, one of the most outstanding student athletes from the university, who won the 100 meters at the 2005 Summer Universiade.

He was the first Chinese to win a sprint title at a major international event.

"Inspired by Ma's slogan: 'Be healthy and work for the motherland for 50 years', everyone is motivated to play sports once you are on campus. The Ma Yuehan Cup sports meeting is a great platform for students to compete and become friends," said Hu, who is now studying for a doctorate at Tsinghua.

Sportsmanship

Ma once said students could lose their competitiveness but could not afford to lose their sportsmanship.

On one hand, he asked students to master the technique and the courage to win.

On the other hand, his education was not just about how to win, but more about how to discipline yourself and respect people through sports.

"Thanks to Ma's efforts, a passion for sports has been cultivated; sportsmanship is spreading and a great sports tradition has been established," said former Tsinghua president Jiang Nanxiang.

Ma had some famous theories concerning sports and their relationship with society and an individual's personality.

He believed sports are an excellent place to develop a student's character, and that sports have value not only in results on the field, but an ability to influence society.

Wu Wenhu, also a Ma student and a mid- and long-distance runner, remembers well Ma's instructions.

"Ma taught us sports, but he also taught us proper behavior and ethics. He told us the importance of being a better man," said Wu, now a retired professor in the computer field at Tsinghua.

Thanks to Ma's influence, Wu not only achieved his major, but also was later recognized as a great tutor by his students.

He was once selected the university's best teacher by Tsinghua students.

"Ma is not with us anymore, but his spirit will last forever," Wu said.