"Move forward, fight on": Lang Ping's last advice to China players

China crashing out of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and failure to continue into the knockout stages of the women's volleyball tournament and defend their title from Rio 2016 marks the end of an era as legendary coach Lang Ping bade a tearful goodbye to the sport she served, loved and helped grow over the past decades.

Coach Lang was in tears as she gathered her players around her on the court after China beat Argentina in the very last match of pool play at the Ariake Arena on Monday.

It was only China's second victory at the Tokyo Olympics - and it meant nothing, as China had already been eliminated regardless of the result. A huge disappointment for the side that was poised to go for back-to-back gold medals and grab their overall fourth Olympic title.

"I told my players 'move forward, fight on'," Lang replied when asked in the Mixed Zone what she had said to them after the Argentina match.

"Things have beginnings and endings. I hope they have great volleyball careers wherever they go from here.

"We had a regretful experience here in Tokyo," explained the 60-year-old. "The new generation has so much potential and they will improve in the future. I hope they will not forget this Olympic experience and will learn from it and will perform well in three years in Paris."

As a player, Lang had led China to gold at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, before returning to coach her country's team to Olympic silver at Atlanta 1996.

After moving on to take charge of the USA women's national team, Lang added another Olympic medal to her collection when she led the Americans to silver at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Lang returned to China and capped her career with gold at Rio 2016, becoming the first person in volleyball to collect the ultimate Olympic prize as both player and coach.

But now, she just yearns for some time amongst her loved ones.

"I really want to go home as fast as possible," said Lang in the Mixed Zone. "I want to thank my family for always supporting my career and all the time I devoted to volleyball. They have been waiting a long time. I want to join them and my friends."

She's not quite done with volleyball though, as she continues to be involved as a member of the FIVB Technical & Coaching Commission.

"I want to use this platform to promote volleyball," she said.