OLYMPICS/ self introduction
China set to dominate gymnastic worlds
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-09-01 16:04
Chen and Xiao are capable of being nicknamed "rings' king" and "pommel king" under current world situation. The newcomers Huang Xu, a veteran with world title, and Feng Zhe are specialists in parallel bars. Feng is also a vault gold medalist at Shanghai World Cup last month.
In China's women squad, Cheng Fei spearheads the "youth mission". Cheng, another Chinese triple titlist last year, boasts one of the best female gymnast worldwide. She is in a lofty position of symbolizing gold-picker in floor exercise and vault.
In spite of dropping Zhang Nan and Li Ya, the first ever team title members, Chinese women's squad is de facto stronger. The rookies Jiang Yuyuan, Yang Yilin, Xiao Sha and Li Shanshan are proved better master-hands than their predecessors.
American Mike Filla saw that firsthand while training at Beijing's Shichahai sports school last summer with four students from the St. Louis Gym Center, where he coaches. Filla left in awe and acknowledged Shichahai's gymnasts were three years ahead of his athletes.
Filla also attended China's national championships and had words of caution for U.S. team.
"I would say the guy, who finished last in an event, was as good as I've seen in America," said Filla. "There guys are on a different level."
Anyway, gymnastics is a sport of combining difficulty and stability. No stability, all difficulty goes in vain. Stability can brings a win and can also cost everything especially for gymnastics characterized with twist, somersault and flying.
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