Jianping Ma was named head coach of the Olympic weightlifting program in the summer of 2012. Under his direction, the team has grown more successful each season, culminating with the first national title for the program at the National University Championship in September of 2014.
The former Olympian has been a coach at a variety of levels for over 26 years, beginning as a Provincial and national Level Coach certified in China. More recently, he was the head coach of the Seychelles (Africa) National Team and the USA World University National Team from 2003 to 2007. His lifters included 2005 and 2007 World Champion and World record maker Li Ping, and 2002 75 kg weight class World Silver medalist Sun RuiPing.
Prior to coaching, Ma was a decorated competitor. From 1978 to 1988, he was a member of the Chinese National Team and represented his country in the 67.5 kg class at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, winning a silver medal. He also won a silver medal and two bronze medals while competing in four World Championships and World Cups, and was a 12-time Chinese National Champion.
Ma received an undergraduate degree from Anhui University in China in 1989 and received his master's degree in exercise science from Xi'an Sports University in China in 2007. In addition to his coaching duties, Ma also teaches courses in weightlifting and strength and conditioning.
