Chinese swimmers face uphill task ( 2003-12-05 11:02) (Xinhua)
Much harder efforts are needed before China could perform better in future
Olympic swimming competitions next year in Athens and 2008 in Beijing, officials
of the China Swimming Association (CSA) said on Thursday.
"A tough challenge is ahead for us," said Li Hua, newly electedvice-president
and secretary-general of Chinese swimming's national governing body.
"The new power balance after the 2000 Olympics in Sydney resulted in much
more investment by the world's swimming powers and the adoption of more
sophisticated training techniques," Li said. "This makes the situation even more
difficult for Chinese Olympian swimmers, in Athens and Beijing."
To yield better results, a steady, sustainable and healthy development is the
only way and a fully enforcement of the "Olympic Honor Program" is the key, Li
said.
Zhao Ge, head coach of the Chinese national swimming team, confirmed his team
had targeted one gold medal and two to three medals in the women's events and
the male swimmers would try to enter the finals of two events, in Athens Olympic
Games. "Even one gold medal in Athens is not easy for us," he admitted.
China suffered dearly for doping scandals involving its swimmers during the
1990s, especially at the 1994 Asian Games and the 1998 FINA world championships,
with quite a number of swimmersand coaches suspended consequently. These bitter
lessons, however,helped Chinese coaches and swimmers rethink what is the true
and better way to win honors for their country, Li said.
But performance at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, 1998 AsianGames in
Bangkok and this year's FINA world championships in Barcelona boosted Chinese
swimmers'confidence and brought them from a historical low back to the right
track. Only if we stick to the "down-to-the-earth" attitude, adopt the
principles "focus on difficulty, strictness and true-to-game situation and high
intensity" in training, the CSA official said.
"The national swimming team should play a leading role in our Olympic
campaign," said Yuan Jiawei, CSA's deputy secretary-general. "Reshuffled one
year ago, coaches and swimmers of the national team are fully carrying out the
Program and, together with management, medical and scientific research
personnel, they have become a real task force," Yuan said.
The CSA officials did not hesitate to admit that China is no match to world
swimming powers the United States and Australia, and it is no longer superior
even over regional power Japan, although Chinese got more medals than its Asian
rivals in Barcelona.
The United States and Australia finished one-two in the final swimming medal
table in Barcelona, with medal credit of 11-12-5 and 6-10-6 respectively. China
was fifth on 3-0-4 and Japan ninth,2-1-3.