Records-breaking performances raise Olympic medal hopes for China

SHAOXING, East China, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese swimmers' record-breaking performances at the seven-day national Olympic trials raised medal hopes, but are not yet strong enough to suffice a gold, head coach Zhang Yadong said here on Saturday.

The seven-day Olympic trials ended on Saturday with two new Asian records in the women's 100 meters backstroke and the men's 4X100 meters freestyle relay, and five new national records in the men's 100 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, 400 and 1500 freestyle, and the 4X100 medley relay.

"It's been years since we saw so many new national or Asian records broken on such a large scale. We found a lot of confidence through the trials," Zhang said.

"But there is no points which are shining and strong enough for any gold medal at the Olympics," he said, "chances of gold are still slim for my swimmers."

Zhang cited young swimmers who were among the sparkles at the trials as possible medal contenders, including 17-year-old Sun Yang, who is the world's top ten in the men's 400 and 1500 freestyle, and Zhao Jing, the first Asian swimmer to go under one minute mark in the women's 100 meters backstroke.

Zhao has climbed to the world's sixth in 100 backstroke and the world's third in 200 backstroke, only after Zimbabwe's Kristy Coventry and French swimmer Laure Manaudou.

Besides the aspiring young athletes, China also has several veteran swimmers eligible to compete for medals, if not golds, at the Games.

On the men side, although the gold of 200 meters butterfly seems to be reserved for America' s Michael Phelps, the world record holder, China's top butterflyer Wu Peng, who achieved his personal best with 1:54.82 at the trials, has a shot at the minor medals.

Wu now ranks fifth in the world. In the Athens Games, Wu placed the sixth in the event's final, won by Phelps.

Another Chinese male swimmer Zhang Lin, best in 400 meters freestyle and also good in 200 and 1500 free, has been on a fast lane of improvement since a three-month training in Australia last year.

The 21-year-old is now the world's third fastest man in the 400 free and the fourth fastest in the 1500 freestyle. Although the two long-distance races are highly likely to continue to be dominated by Australia's long distance king Grant Hackett in Beijing, Zhang remains a strong medal contender. Zhang said he would go to Australia for training in May.

On the women side, veteran breaststroker and multiple medallists Qi Hui has recovered from downturn last year. In her special of 200 meters breaststroke, Qi clocked 2:25.68 and could place sixth in this year's world ranking. She is also the most powerful Chinese female swimmer in 200 meters individual medley and 100 breaststroke.

In women's 200 meters butterfly, China now has two swimmers, Jiao Liuyang, 17, and Liu Zige, 19, to swim under two minutes eight seconds. Their results now rank top ten in the world.

Despite the encouraging prospects, many say that there shall be no relief for the Chinese swimmers, in the face of waves of shattered world records by European and Australian swimmers in recent competitions.

Head coach Zhang Yadong said the final list of the Chinese swimmers to compete in the Olympic arena would be finalized based upon the trials results, combined with potentials and abilities of individual swimmers.

"The list will be discussed and submitted to the general sports administration for approval in the coming days," he added.