Chinese cyclists Gong Jinjie (front) and Zhong Tianshi compete during the final of women's team sprint cycling track at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 12, 2016. (Photo: Xinhua/Li Ga)
(ECNS) -- The Chinese studio that designed helmets for Olympic cycling gold medalists said it has no plans to mass-produce its Peking Opera-themed designs, although costly knockoffs are already for sale online. [Special coverage]
China's Gong Jinjie and Zhong Tianshi won the women's team sprint in Rio, impressing the audience not only with their prowess but also with their helmets painted with the faces of Peking Opera characters Mu Guiying and Hua Mulan, both legendary heroines.
The helmets were designed by the Incolor studio based in Guangzhou city of Guangdong Province at the invitation of cyclist Xu Chao, who wore a mask depicting the comic Peking Opera character Zhang Fei and finished sixth in the men's sprint qualifying round at the Rio Olympics.
Xu said his goal was to increase the visual identity of Chinese cyclists at the Games.
The studio, founded by amateur cyclist Zhang Dongliang in 2012, mostly works in bicycle repair, painting and helmet design. It offered free designs for China's Olympic cycling athletes over a two month-period using popular symbols such as the red flag, clouds and peony flowers to symbolize courage and victory.
After the duo's win, the studio has been overwhelmed with media interview requests. At the online marketplace Taobao.com, prices of helmet knockoffs ranged from 288 yuan ($43) to 8,888 yuan. Some online stores also sold souvenirs featuring the Peking Opera-themed helmets.
Zhang said the studio has no plan to mass-produce the helmets at any time, adding that it has not authorized the use of its designs for commercial purposes.
