Zhang Yimou needed medication just to speak due to stress helming Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies

The wife of Chinese director says leading the Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies had piled pressure on him and hurt his health. Photo: AP

The wife of renowned Chinese director Zhang Yimou said on Monday (Feb 14) that leading the Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies had piled pressure on him and hurt his health, in comments that have divided the Chinese netizen.

Zhang, 71, also masterminded the spectacular opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and is behind classic Chinese films such as Red Sorghum and martial arts epic House Of Flying Daggers.