Celebrated Chinese gymnast Chen Yibing, four-time world champion on the still rings, and gold and silver medal-winner at the 2012 London Olympics will be giving a public talk on Tuesday 8 October during a unique visit to the University of Essex this week.

Chen is known as the ‘King of the Rings’ for his flawless performances on this apparatus. He will be joined for the public lecture by speed skater Yang Yang, a multiple gold medallist at world championships and a silver medallist at the Nagano and Salt Lake City Olympics.

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Both Chen and Yang Yang will talk, through interpreters, about their personal stories and how they became world champions. Chen will also give a short gymnastic demonstration as part of the event. The talk at 7.00pm is open to the public and will take place at the Ivor Crewe Lecture Hall at the Colchester Campus.

Tim Gutsell, Director of the University's International Office, said: "This will be a fantastic chance to hear from two outstanding athletes. They hope their experiences can inspire and help young people. We are extremely honoured to welcome Chen Yibing and Yang Yang to our University. They are wonderful sporting ambassadors and their visit will help us raise our profile in China and tell Chinese students about the wonderful opportunities available here at Essex."

Both athletes are taking part in a week-long visit organised by the University's International Office.

During the week the athletes will be visiting the University's three campuses in Colchester, Southend and Loughton to find out more about its world-leading research and outstanding academic departments. Their visit will be filmed and used to highlight within China the excellent educational experience offered at Essex.

Essex already has a large Chinese community with more than 700 Chinese students studying at Essex and strong academic links with China. In September the University welcomed the Chinese Minister Counsellor for Education Shen Yang. Mr Yang met Vice-Chancellor Professor Anthony Forster plus Essex robotics and wireless networks experts, translation and interpreting specialists and social scientists. The University has supported Essex County Council’s work to promote links with Jiangsu Province in China and as part of this has hosted numerous Chinese delegations to share best practice within higher education.

Each year two Essex students are being selected to travel to China as part of a scholarship programme backed by the Chinese Government. From this year Essex launched a PhD scholarship programme in partnership with the China Scholarship Council offering scholarships to 10 outstanding Chinese postgraduate research students. Essex has also recently launched Chinese-English Translation and Interpreting courses at postgraduate level.

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For more information contact the Communications Office on 01206 874377 or e-mail: comms@essex.ac.uk