BEIJING -- Coming back from a three-year absence from the Chinese women's national team, star blocker Zhao Ruirui was dreaming of winning her second gold medal at the Beijing Olympics.

China's Zhao Ruirui reacts after winning a point over Italy during the FIVB World Grand Prix women's volleyball tournament in Hong Kong June 29, 2008. [Agencies]

"After the Athens Games, some people said that the gold medal was too easy for me, because I only played a few minutes," Zhao said. "The only thing I can tell them is that no athlete would like to win a gold medal this way."

The Olympics have been a dramatic memory for Zhao, the most popular Chinese volleyball player in the post Lang Ping era.

Nine years ago, Zhao became a member of the Chinese national team at the age of 18 and was hopeful to make her Olympic debut at Sydney. However, she was forced out of the national team due to a severe injury to her meniscus in right knee suffered from a training in October 1999.

"I spent quite a lot of time crying after the hit," Zhao recalled. "But I was confident in my future and I was looking forward to the Athens Games."

Having recovered from the injury, Zhao joined Chen Zhonghe's side as he took the helm of the Chinese national team in 2001 and soon became one of the most important players.

In the year of 2003, everything seemed to run in the right direction for Zhao, who emerged as one of the best middle blockers of the world as she helped China claim back-to-back titles in the World Grand Prix Finals and the World Cup.

"I was in top form, so was the Chinese team," said Zhao. "And I began to plan for the Olympics."

However, Zhao was injured again in a training in March 2004, having a fracture to her right leg.

"It felt like an nightmare," Zhao said. "'Is it unreal', I asked myself."

It was real. She even heard the breaking of the bone.