After several months of preparation, Sang wrote in her blog on April 2, 2011 that a nine-member legal team had been established for the lawsuit.

Hai Ming, the only Chinese-American in the attorney team for Sang's lawsuit, said the trial was expected to begin in June.

"When the accident happened in 1998, as a minor of 17, Sang did need someone who should have shown up to help her," said Hai. There would be no charges for Sang if the suit failed, he said.

Hong Daode, a professor with China University of Political Science and Law, was quoted by China National Radio as saying the key to the case would be finding evidence for the interruption of prescription.

Huang Jian, Sang's agent, said materials had been found to prove the accident was caused by a disturbance.Why has Sang brought up her fall 12 years later? Huang said one reason was "to reveal the truth," the other was to try to ensure guarantees for life. "Sang is popular, but it's empty fame," he said.

Despite Sang's being selected as a hero of 1998 by U.S. People magazine and also being the first foreigner to drop the Times Square ball for the New Year's Eve in 1999, these honors hardly compensate for the hardship the accident has caused to the young girl, as her hands became rigid and withered. She needs a catheter to urinate and an enema and lubricating oil to empty her bowels.

The life of Sang right now is not very easy, said Sang Shisheng, her father.

Apart from her 1,600-yuan ($242.42) salary and a 600-yuan ($90.9) nursing subsidy she receives every month from Zhejiang Sports Team, Sang also received 400,000 yuan ($60,606) from the General Administration of Sports of China (GASC) and the local sports bureau a while after the accident.

As for the insurance the 1998 Goodwill Games organizers provided, Sang can hardly count on it. The amount would only cover medical expenses in the United States.

"It's been several years and I haven't been to the United States for treatment and rehabilitation because the flight expenses are far beyond my ability," said Sang in her blog. She has to give up normal treatment and looks after herself instead.

Talking about why she had taken so long to act, Sang said many factors had prevented her from seeking justice 13 years ago.

"I was only 17 at that time and didn't know how to protect my rights, but now I do," she wrote.

"Sang's case reveals more athletes are starting to be concerned about their own rights and will take action to protect themselves," said Wang Zhenglun, Vice President of Nanjing Sport Institute.

Thirteen years ago, there was no compulsory insurance in China because the country's national sports system covers almost all expenses of athletes, and Sang could not sue the national team for greater compensation because of lack of relevant regulations in the Sports Law of China.

In 1999, a year after Sang's fall, the GASC gave an order to all sports teams in the country, requiring these teams to sign accident insurance contracts with athletes, apart from an extra insurance paid by the national team.

In 2007, another gymnast, Wang Yan, broke her neck in a fall from uneven parallel bars at the national gymnastics championships. But she was luckier compared to Sang. Wang wasn't hurt badly and had three different insurances to protect her.

But, although the insurance firewall has already been established now, Chinese athletes still face embarrassment in protecting their rights when they're competing for the national team, while still affiliated with local teams.