Chinese swimming calls for more women breaststroke talents
( 2003-10-22 21:14) (Xinhua)
Though triple world champion Luo Xuejuan breezed to win the women's 100
meters breaststroke in a world class result at the fifth Chinese City Games, her
coach Zhang Yadong called Wednesday for more high level swimmers in the event.
Luo, winner in the 50m, 100m breaststroke and 4x100m medley relay at the
Barcelona World Championships in July, clocked one minute 07.42 to take her
first gold at the City Games, 0.62 seconds shy of her winning time but same as
the silver medal clocking at the worlds.
Qi Hui, women's 200m breaststroke world record holder and bronze at the
worlds, came to second in 1:08.89 and Wu Binan third in 1"As Luo and Qi are
considered the ones most likely to win golds for China at the Athens Olympic
Games next year, Zhang said that there is no strong backups behind them.
Zhang said:"Our hope at Athens Olympic Games is women's breaststroke. But we
can not rely on one or two swimmers to win at the Olympics. We need a group of
top level swimmers behind them."
Zhang said China is abundant of breaststrokers, but very few of them are on
the world top level. "While such swimmers as Luo and Qi could pose fierce
challenge to any rivals in the world, other swimmers from China are out of world
top 50," he added.
Luo Nan, 17, who placed sixth in the 200m on the world rankings in June and
was tipped the talent in the event, had to accept a slump at the City Games as
she has been in the process of techniques changes. Luo Nan placed fifth in the
100m in 1""Luo Nan is encouraged to improve her technique. But we need more
potentials for the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games," Zhang said.
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