Chinese Olympic champion chided for putting mother before motherland

Olympic champion short track speedskater Zhou Yang has been chided by China's deputy sports minister for thanking her parents but not her country after winning gold at the Vancouver Games last month.

The 18-year-old, who won gold in the 1,500 metres and as part of the 3,000m relay team, said in Canada that she hoped her achievements would make life easier for her unemployed parents.

"It is okay to thank your parents. But firstly you should thank the motherland. You should put the motherland first, not to only thank your parents," vice sports minister Yu Zaiqing told the Southern Metropolis Daily.

Her parents were awarded a 94-square-metre apartment valued at 300,000 yuan ($43,950) by the local government in their home city of Changchun after Zhou''s 1,500m triumph.