INQUIRER Sports

BEIJING -- Before the Olympics Chen Xiexia was already a champion and well known within the world of women's weightlifting, but now she look forward to riches beyond her wildest dreams.

When the 25-year-old became China's first gold medal winner of the Olympics, all sorts of doors opened.

According to one report in the Oriental Sports Daily here she can expect to receive as much as 10 million yuan ($1.45 million) for her feat, with income coming from a variety of sources.

China's General Administration of Sport is awarding each gold medal winner with 250,000 yuan ($36,447), an increase of 50,000 yuan from the Athens Olympics as an extra incentive to reach for glory.

But, according to the China Daily, that is just the beginning with more rewards coming from athletes' home provinces, in Chen's case the southern province of Guangdong. as well as sponsors.

In addition, the Fok Ying Tung Foundation, launched by a Hong Kong entrepreneur and philanthropist, has given each Chinese gold medal winner one kilogram of gold and $80,000 since 1984.

The China Daily added that all cash rewards or other prizes that Chinese athletes derive from their gold medal success are tax free.

Chen played down the significance of winning the hosts' first gold medal.

"The first medal is a gold medal and other gold medals are also gold medals and they mean the same. I don't think it has any special significance," she said.