Chinese swimming team arrived Rome a few days ago and Chinese media started going around and gathering infomation for their big guns. One of these is Olympian champion, Liu Zige. After a surprising win in women's 200m fly, Liu, her coach, Jin Wei and Shi Feng (semi-finalist in men's 100m fly) fled to Australia for the training camp. She competed in Australian NC and then Chinese NC in April where she did 2:07 low which was considered a good time. Definitely, People in China expected more since she swam a sensational WR 2:04.18 at Olympics.
Today, there was a media report about her coach, Jin Wei who appeared to be frustrated about their current siutation. In the report, he said, "Please leave Liu alone. We don't want to be famous and she is just an ordinary national swimmer. There is no good to be famous." The journalist came up with something skin-deep,"Liu with fame can shoot commercials" Jin refuted," Liu only shot 2 commericals and she only earned 10,000 and 6,600 bucks from them. What's good for being famous?"
the journalist then turned the focus to the training cost. First, she mentioned 2 million of the training allowance for Tao Li in Singapore. Tao is a former Chinese swimmer from Hubei Province who is now representing Singapore and was a 4th placer in 100m butterfly at Olympics. (Surprisingly, Tao's father, Tao Rong is the manager of HuBei swimming team which has been rising in domestic scene for the last few years and has produced fine swimners such as Zhao Jing and Li Jiaxing who competed in Olympics). In contrast, Jin Wei's training operation is rather traditional. After he came back from Australia in 1995, he founded a swimming school on his own in Liaoning province where Liu and Shi Feng started their swimming training. In 2004, Shanghai was organizing an athlete selection event and Jin and his disciples were selected to join Shanghai team which had produced Olympic champions such as Yang Wenyi, Zhuang Yong and Le Jingyi. I guess, the facilities in Shanghai should be superior to other province. As far as I know, Shanghai has produced world class sportsman like Yao Ming (NBA player), Liu Xiang (men's 110m hurdle world champion and Olympic champion in 2004) and Qian Zhenhua (men's modern penthalon world champion in 2005) and a lot more. Yao should be 2nd or 3rd Chinese NBA player (sorry, not a fan for professional basketball) and the latter two are unprecedented in China. It appears to me Shanghai is one of the important places where symbolizes the breakthough of Chinese sports.
The report then mentioned in 2007, Jin sold his car to build a pool for training of Liu and Shi and after Liu's win at Olympics, the 1st thing she wanted to spend is to get her coach a new car. However, with all the glory behind them, a new financial problem is standing in the way of Jin. They fled to Australia for training camp this January and all the costs were dipped from Jin's pocket which greatly worried him. He sighed, "I may retire after bankcrucy."
Talking about swimmers' future, He said," It is uncertain and I have no clue whether they will be on the next meet (National Games). I have no idea what will be happening tomorrow. Now, I only have Liu and Shi and when Liu retires, I will go too. When the time comes, I may do something else (rather than coaching). Being an ordinary man is pretty much what I want."
There is full of uncertainties in Jin but when the topic turns to the competition in Rome, he restores his confidence,"We don't have pressure. We come here not to sit back because we are representing China. We will go all out or we don't go out."
Friday, July 24, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Yang Yu, a journal she wrote for her Olympics
Introduction: Yang Yu, born in 1985. She was a triple Olympian (2000, 2004, 2008) winning silver medals in women's 4x200m free relay in 2004 and 2008. In world championships, she was silver medalist in 2001 and 2003 and bronze medalist in 2005 in women's 200m free. She was also part of winning team in 4x100m medley relay in 2003 World Championships. She won short course 200m free world champions twice in 2000 and 2006. She planned to retire after this year.
PB (long course):
50m free: 25.29s (2009)
100m free: 54.94 (2001)
200m free: 1:56.79 (2008)
Below is a translated version of the journal she wrote about her feelings for Olympics:
Beijing, a city that is familiarized by world civilians in 2008
Olympics, a sports gala held in Beijing that is known by people all over the world.
2008, the hardest year it has been for Chinese.
Now, it is about to become a piece of history.
When everyone is sighing about why time flies, I can’t help to start feeling down.
A lot happened this year. Everything happened all the sudden without a sign.
Starting from the snow storm at the beginning of the year followed by independence issue in Tibet and then the earthquake, together with explosion incidence during torch relay and incidence of someone (I guess she referred to Ouyang Kunpeng’s doping case), it seems all these “deliberately” put up their final showdowns before Olympics.
Finally, here came the Olympic opening ceremony and it seemed everything was fated to change after 8pm on August 08, 2008 which to me is utterly mind-boggling. The opening ceremony amazed everyone and each program was so jaw-dropping that make people all over the world marvelled at the wonder created by Chinese. Up to this point, who knew it was just a beginning? And who could figure out Chinese could outdo Americans by so much in the number of gold medals which exceeded 50 this time?
From my point of view, there have been so many unbelievable surprises created in the swimming event alone. From Yafei’s Asian record (Zhou Yafei in women’s 100m fly) on day 1 to Zhouzhou’s silver medal (Zhang Lin in men’s 400m free) on day 2, Ah Pang’s bronze medal with world record (Pang Jiaying in women’s 200m free) on day 5 until August 14, a climax for Chinese swimming in the meet when Liu Zige in women’s 200m fly walked away with gold medal plus world record, these all happened all the sudden like a dream but they were all real.
To me, the whole meet seemed to be so hard to comprehend. It was like a trip to me in this edition of Olympics since I only had one relay to swim (women’s 4x200m free). The relay was given up by all and we all thought making to the final was good enough (comment: Although Chinese women’s 4x200m free team has been multi medallists in all major competitions since 2001 and before 2007 world championships, they did not make it to the final in 2007 Worlds because swimmers all over the world have been stepping up a big time in this era and the improvement in Chinese swimming seemed to be a little sluggish a few years back). Of course, it was what exactly I have been thinking... But after the heat, it was like a joke from god has been made on me that I swam a personal best by surprise. “What’s going on?”, I asked myself after the heat. Anyway, the competition went on and I did not have the time to think this through. Since it has been this way (making to the final), I just had to do better in the final. We leapt one big step further in the final by chopping off the world record by 5 seconds which I never thought of, really, really. Although we lost to Australia, we reigned the silver medal once more (after 2004 Athens Olympics) and broke the old world record by 5 seconds. I am satisfied, really. After the swim, all the friends were sending their congratulations and we are all like becoming one who feels the same fullness of the outcome, really. I feel so lucky and so happy that so many people have been concerning so much about me.
After that, I was in the stand cheering for the team and one day, I suddenly sensed that in near future, I won’t be standing on the poolside like this cheering for my team mates and friends… In fact, I have known it for a long time. But if I retire one day, it will be so missed since I love swimming so much. I used to thinking of giving up (swimming) whenever I was in pain (caused by training or poor results), but water which is the thing I was in love since I was a kid… I never thought of this emotion surfacing so soon. I am looking at the watercube and thinking about my friends, I feel bumped when I know everyone will walk their own lives after retirement… I may be thinking too much. I am so grateful of Beijing and I am so grateful of this Olympics. Not only had it offered me a silver medal and financial incentives, but also more satisfaction and happiness come from within. Finally, I would like to say “I am so lucky to meet you all, really.”
Good luck to you, Yang Yu. One of the swimmers to witness the fall of Chinese swimming (1999-2000) to its sprouting (2001-2004), to its small setback (2007) and to its rise again (2008-2009).
PB (long course):
50m free: 25.29s (2009)
100m free: 54.94 (2001)
200m free: 1:56.79 (2008)
Below is a translated version of the journal she wrote about her feelings for Olympics:
Beijing, a city that is familiarized by world civilians in 2008
Olympics, a sports gala held in Beijing that is known by people all over the world.
2008, the hardest year it has been for Chinese.
Now, it is about to become a piece of history.
When everyone is sighing about why time flies, I can’t help to start feeling down.
A lot happened this year. Everything happened all the sudden without a sign.
Starting from the snow storm at the beginning of the year followed by independence issue in Tibet and then the earthquake, together with explosion incidence during torch relay and incidence of someone (I guess she referred to Ouyang Kunpeng’s doping case), it seems all these “deliberately” put up their final showdowns before Olympics.
Finally, here came the Olympic opening ceremony and it seemed everything was fated to change after 8pm on August 08, 2008 which to me is utterly mind-boggling. The opening ceremony amazed everyone and each program was so jaw-dropping that make people all over the world marvelled at the wonder created by Chinese. Up to this point, who knew it was just a beginning? And who could figure out Chinese could outdo Americans by so much in the number of gold medals which exceeded 50 this time?
From my point of view, there have been so many unbelievable surprises created in the swimming event alone. From Yafei’s Asian record (Zhou Yafei in women’s 100m fly) on day 1 to Zhouzhou’s silver medal (Zhang Lin in men’s 400m free) on day 2, Ah Pang’s bronze medal with world record (Pang Jiaying in women’s 200m free) on day 5 until August 14, a climax for Chinese swimming in the meet when Liu Zige in women’s 200m fly walked away with gold medal plus world record, these all happened all the sudden like a dream but they were all real.
To me, the whole meet seemed to be so hard to comprehend. It was like a trip to me in this edition of Olympics since I only had one relay to swim (women’s 4x200m free). The relay was given up by all and we all thought making to the final was good enough (comment: Although Chinese women’s 4x200m free team has been multi medallists in all major competitions since 2001 and before 2007 world championships, they did not make it to the final in 2007 Worlds because swimmers all over the world have been stepping up a big time in this era and the improvement in Chinese swimming seemed to be a little sluggish a few years back). Of course, it was what exactly I have been thinking... But after the heat, it was like a joke from god has been made on me that I swam a personal best by surprise. “What’s going on?”, I asked myself after the heat. Anyway, the competition went on and I did not have the time to think this through. Since it has been this way (making to the final), I just had to do better in the final. We leapt one big step further in the final by chopping off the world record by 5 seconds which I never thought of, really, really. Although we lost to Australia, we reigned the silver medal once more (after 2004 Athens Olympics) and broke the old world record by 5 seconds. I am satisfied, really. After the swim, all the friends were sending their congratulations and we are all like becoming one who feels the same fullness of the outcome, really. I feel so lucky and so happy that so many people have been concerning so much about me.
After that, I was in the stand cheering for the team and one day, I suddenly sensed that in near future, I won’t be standing on the poolside like this cheering for my team mates and friends… In fact, I have known it for a long time. But if I retire one day, it will be so missed since I love swimming so much. I used to thinking of giving up (swimming) whenever I was in pain (caused by training or poor results), but water which is the thing I was in love since I was a kid… I never thought of this emotion surfacing so soon. I am looking at the watercube and thinking about my friends, I feel bumped when I know everyone will walk their own lives after retirement… I may be thinking too much. I am so grateful of Beijing and I am so grateful of this Olympics. Not only had it offered me a silver medal and financial incentives, but also more satisfaction and happiness come from within. Finally, I would like to say “I am so lucky to meet you all, really.”
Good luck to you, Yang Yu. One of the swimmers to witness the fall of Chinese swimming (1999-2000) to its sprouting (2001-2004), to its small setback (2007) and to its rise again (2008-2009).
Monday, July 06, 2009
What's wrong with Chinese women middle and long distance running?
The last national track and field meet before national games just ended in Jinan, where the 11th National Games will be held. Expectedly, most of the atheletes just took the chance to feel the newly built stadium and they just came here to "stroll and toss". Only a few good results were produced: e.g. Men's pole vault with both Liu Feiliang and Yang Yansheng past 5.70m, Gong Lijiao's 19.66m in women's shotput and Huang Xiaoxiao's 55.60 in women's 400m hurdle. A ridiculously slow race was seen in women's 5000m when Bai Xue won the race over 17min. 10000m was also disappointed as well. So, what's wrong with Chinese women's distance running after a glorius era?
From 1992 to 2004, China produced 1 bronze medalist in marathon, 1 Olympic champion and 1 silver medalist in 10000m, 1 Olympic Champion in 5000m, 1 Olympic bronze medalist in 1500m. From 1991 to 2005, China also produced 1 silver medalist in marathon, 1 world champion, 2 silver medalists and 2 bronze medalists in 10000m, 1 world champion, 1 silver medalist and 1 bronze medalist in 3000m and 1 world champion in 1500m.
In late 1980s, 2 rising long distance runners, Wang Xiuting and Zhong Huanti from Yunnan province started producing world class results in 10,000m. In 1991, they took everyone by surprise to take silver and bronze medal in Tokyo world championships. They also finished top 8 in the Olympics next year. In Barcelona Olympics 1992, a distance running force started to form from China. Ma Junren, a legendary figure in Chinese women distance running, had his 1st disciple win the 1st Olympics medal in women distance running as Qu Yunxia came in 3rd in 1500m. In the same year, his young disciples won all the distances from 800 to 10000m in Seoul world junior championships. In 1993, I think most people who concerns about athletics should know when the team coached by Ma (also called Ma's army) won 1500, 3000 and 10,000m in Stuggart world championships and they broke all these 3 world records in 7th Chinese National Games in outrageous manner. Qu Yunxia broke 1500m while Wang Junxia took the rest and these records are still intact after 16 years. With the rapid rise from Africa, there will be better opportunity for them to break 10,000m since they broke the 30min last year. After this mental barrier, faster and faster times will be seen from them but Wang's record was still like 20 seconds faster than their best. 3000m is the hardest since Wang's 8:06.11 was way too fast and not many runners nowadays can dip below 8:20. The possible reason is it is no longer raced in Olympics and world championships so their training is more focused on 5000 and 10000m. Qu's 1500m is also untouchable since 3:55 is considered the top time nowadays and Qu was at 3:50.46.
However, In late 1994 and early 1995, the winning team disintegraded due to Ma's harsh coaching. After that, Ma started fostering a new generation of runners which was shown form in 1995 city games when Jiang Bo broke the women's 5000m junior world record and beat Wang. Wang lost his top form after leaving Ma but she did not give up and started training under Mao Dezhen who just passed away a month ago. Under Mao's training, although Wang did not regain her WR-breaking form, she did manage to qualify for the Olympics and won the inaugural women's 5000m event and came in 2nd in 10,000m. In this period of training, Wang constantly suffered from serious headache and she cannot carry on any more training the following year for the 8th Chinese National Games. After she recovered, she did request training under Mao but he refused since there seemed to be a lot of conflicts after he took over Wang from Ma. In China, it is not easy to find a coach at your own will due to runner's registration to a particular unit or province. After 1996 Atlanta Olympics, she hung up her spikes forever and this considered a great ending for a distance runner like her.
In 1997, after no single runner from Ma's army qualified for the 1996 Olympics, he intended to repeat the WR-breaking wave in 8th Chinese National Games. His runners broke women's 5000m and ran several world number 1 times but the wave was way less stronger than that in 1993. In 1998, although his disciples won a couple of events in world junior championships, his magic was getting weaker. No single runner was selected to Bangkok Asian Games in the same year and 1999 Sevilla world championships. In 2000, he made his final effort to produce his own Olympic champion (which Wang was not considered) but they fell to EPO testing and only 1 survived the test. His only and final Olympic representative, Li Ji, finished 6th in Olympics. In 2001, he pulled off another 4 wins in 9th National Games and it was the end of his coaching. Now, he becomes a dog trainer.
In 2001 chinese national games, 2 great stars were produced: Xing Huina and Sun Yingjie. Sun has been in marathon scene for a couple of years and she made a breakthrough in shorter distance in 2001. Xing was only 17 years old that year and finished 2nd in 5000m with 14:56. Sun was training under Wang Dexian and Xing belongs to Shandong province. After Xing's performance in 2001, she was trained under Wang who became the national team coach in charge of women's distance running. In 2002, Sun produced a world number 2 time in 10000m and 2003, she won a bronze medal in world championships with Xing breaking world junior record. Xing then won the women's 10000m in 2004 Athen Olympics and Sun won the world half marathon title. 2005 was a turning point. Both of them could not medal in Helski world championships but finished considerably well. Later in 10th Chinese national games, Sun won the marathon and came in 2nd in 10,000m after Xing after a day or 2. However, she did not pass the drug test after 10,000m when she was ok after the marathon. It started a long struggle for Sun and Xing. Due to Sun's offence and the other offence from Wang's former runner, Wang was banned from coaching in any form in lifetime which means she can't coach both Xing and Sun. Sun was also banned for 2 years. The ugly past started to surface for Wang. Sun left Wang because she could not take Wang's controlling style and beating. A few of his former runners, also came out to sue him over the prize money and salaries he promised to give and the physical damage during training under him. In one case, one runner had her toe deformed so badly over years and years of harsh training without proper care from him. Among them, the most famous is Ai Dongmei who won Beijing marthon in late 1990s. She also ran a few international marathons in the past and google search should be able to find her marathon times.
After Sun dismissed his coach, Sun's team appointed another coach to Sun but with the injuries she had suffered over the years, her form has not been regained since. In 2008, she started racing again but the times she ran were far slower than her top times and she could not make it to the Olympics. Xing, also repeatedly suffered from old injuries in the last couple of years. For 2008 Olympics, she did try the last resort as she trained under Li Li, a Chinese coach whose disciples include Bernard Lagat, the double world champion in 2007. The training was in vain since Xing's injuries stopped her from the right track and she missed the Beijing Olympics.
In 2008 Olympics, a young generation was sent to race. world junior champion in 2006, Xue Fei, 19 yo, ran into 5000m final. Bai Xue, 20yo, and Zhang Yingying, 18 yo were competiting the 10000m. Without any experience, they both failed to make impact.
In 2007, we did see a ray of hope when many runners hit the Olympics A-qualifying marks in city games. A few of them like He Pan who did 15:09 chose to go to university and Liu Nian who broke the Asian record at 9:26 in 3000m steeplechase also retired for studing. Same for Song Xiaoxue who did 31:34 in 10000m. They all retired for higher education degree.
A few explanations were pointed out: Most of kids born after 1990 are single child and their parents would rather see them study than "running for life". Life of new generation is less bitter than their seniors who run to create a better future which obviously do not apply now. Since they have more options, why do they choose a hard one? Chinese sports is still like an industry type. Once they think you are a talent, they will mold you into the shape they think it is good. Furthermore, they probably only do one single thing most of the time: training, training and training. They have these sports school, provincial team and national team to mold you into the shape. What you do is to compete to come in 1st for the team and you will get rewards. After your peak is over or severe injuries, the only thing left for them is reality. There are so many bitter stories for sports champions who can't get a living after retirement. Like the runners from Ma's army, most of them are not doing so well currently after so many years. furthermore, University sports is still uncommon and incompetitive in china. Those athletes who competed in the national university games are mostly from the provincial or national teams who are just hanging the university brand names and probably never go to the school (may be exaggerating a little).
A ray of hope: When Hu Kai won men's 100m in 2005 universiade, a lot in China may think how to combine sports and eduation and take advantage of both of them. Hu is a real Qing Hua university student and he really goes to school for lecture. This case is still tip of the iceberg but I would say Chinese women distance running will probably be getting weaker with the current situation. Although there are still a lot of Chinese in hardship, there are more and more ways to make quick bucks in China. I think you know what I mean.
From 1992 to 2004, China produced 1 bronze medalist in marathon, 1 Olympic champion and 1 silver medalist in 10000m, 1 Olympic Champion in 5000m, 1 Olympic bronze medalist in 1500m. From 1991 to 2005, China also produced 1 silver medalist in marathon, 1 world champion, 2 silver medalists and 2 bronze medalists in 10000m, 1 world champion, 1 silver medalist and 1 bronze medalist in 3000m and 1 world champion in 1500m.
In late 1980s, 2 rising long distance runners, Wang Xiuting and Zhong Huanti from Yunnan province started producing world class results in 10,000m. In 1991, they took everyone by surprise to take silver and bronze medal in Tokyo world championships. They also finished top 8 in the Olympics next year. In Barcelona Olympics 1992, a distance running force started to form from China. Ma Junren, a legendary figure in Chinese women distance running, had his 1st disciple win the 1st Olympics medal in women distance running as Qu Yunxia came in 3rd in 1500m. In the same year, his young disciples won all the distances from 800 to 10000m in Seoul world junior championships. In 1993, I think most people who concerns about athletics should know when the team coached by Ma (also called Ma's army) won 1500, 3000 and 10,000m in Stuggart world championships and they broke all these 3 world records in 7th Chinese National Games in outrageous manner. Qu Yunxia broke 1500m while Wang Junxia took the rest and these records are still intact after 16 years. With the rapid rise from Africa, there will be better opportunity for them to break 10,000m since they broke the 30min last year. After this mental barrier, faster and faster times will be seen from them but Wang's record was still like 20 seconds faster than their best. 3000m is the hardest since Wang's 8:06.11 was way too fast and not many runners nowadays can dip below 8:20. The possible reason is it is no longer raced in Olympics and world championships so their training is more focused on 5000 and 10000m. Qu's 1500m is also untouchable since 3:55 is considered the top time nowadays and Qu was at 3:50.46.
However, In late 1994 and early 1995, the winning team disintegraded due to Ma's harsh coaching. After that, Ma started fostering a new generation of runners which was shown form in 1995 city games when Jiang Bo broke the women's 5000m junior world record and beat Wang. Wang lost his top form after leaving Ma but she did not give up and started training under Mao Dezhen who just passed away a month ago. Under Mao's training, although Wang did not regain her WR-breaking form, she did manage to qualify for the Olympics and won the inaugural women's 5000m event and came in 2nd in 10,000m. In this period of training, Wang constantly suffered from serious headache and she cannot carry on any more training the following year for the 8th Chinese National Games. After she recovered, she did request training under Mao but he refused since there seemed to be a lot of conflicts after he took over Wang from Ma. In China, it is not easy to find a coach at your own will due to runner's registration to a particular unit or province. After 1996 Atlanta Olympics, she hung up her spikes forever and this considered a great ending for a distance runner like her.
In 1997, after no single runner from Ma's army qualified for the 1996 Olympics, he intended to repeat the WR-breaking wave in 8th Chinese National Games. His runners broke women's 5000m and ran several world number 1 times but the wave was way less stronger than that in 1993. In 1998, although his disciples won a couple of events in world junior championships, his magic was getting weaker. No single runner was selected to Bangkok Asian Games in the same year and 1999 Sevilla world championships. In 2000, he made his final effort to produce his own Olympic champion (which Wang was not considered) but they fell to EPO testing and only 1 survived the test. His only and final Olympic representative, Li Ji, finished 6th in Olympics. In 2001, he pulled off another 4 wins in 9th National Games and it was the end of his coaching. Now, he becomes a dog trainer.
In 2001 chinese national games, 2 great stars were produced: Xing Huina and Sun Yingjie. Sun has been in marathon scene for a couple of years and she made a breakthrough in shorter distance in 2001. Xing was only 17 years old that year and finished 2nd in 5000m with 14:56. Sun was training under Wang Dexian and Xing belongs to Shandong province. After Xing's performance in 2001, she was trained under Wang who became the national team coach in charge of women's distance running. In 2002, Sun produced a world number 2 time in 10000m and 2003, she won a bronze medal in world championships with Xing breaking world junior record. Xing then won the women's 10000m in 2004 Athen Olympics and Sun won the world half marathon title. 2005 was a turning point. Both of them could not medal in Helski world championships but finished considerably well. Later in 10th Chinese national games, Sun won the marathon and came in 2nd in 10,000m after Xing after a day or 2. However, she did not pass the drug test after 10,000m when she was ok after the marathon. It started a long struggle for Sun and Xing. Due to Sun's offence and the other offence from Wang's former runner, Wang was banned from coaching in any form in lifetime which means she can't coach both Xing and Sun. Sun was also banned for 2 years. The ugly past started to surface for Wang. Sun left Wang because she could not take Wang's controlling style and beating. A few of his former runners, also came out to sue him over the prize money and salaries he promised to give and the physical damage during training under him. In one case, one runner had her toe deformed so badly over years and years of harsh training without proper care from him. Among them, the most famous is Ai Dongmei who won Beijing marthon in late 1990s. She also ran a few international marathons in the past and google search should be able to find her marathon times.
After Sun dismissed his coach, Sun's team appointed another coach to Sun but with the injuries she had suffered over the years, her form has not been regained since. In 2008, she started racing again but the times she ran were far slower than her top times and she could not make it to the Olympics. Xing, also repeatedly suffered from old injuries in the last couple of years. For 2008 Olympics, she did try the last resort as she trained under Li Li, a Chinese coach whose disciples include Bernard Lagat, the double world champion in 2007. The training was in vain since Xing's injuries stopped her from the right track and she missed the Beijing Olympics.
In 2008 Olympics, a young generation was sent to race. world junior champion in 2006, Xue Fei, 19 yo, ran into 5000m final. Bai Xue, 20yo, and Zhang Yingying, 18 yo were competiting the 10000m. Without any experience, they both failed to make impact.
In 2007, we did see a ray of hope when many runners hit the Olympics A-qualifying marks in city games. A few of them like He Pan who did 15:09 chose to go to university and Liu Nian who broke the Asian record at 9:26 in 3000m steeplechase also retired for studing. Same for Song Xiaoxue who did 31:34 in 10000m. They all retired for higher education degree.
A few explanations were pointed out: Most of kids born after 1990 are single child and their parents would rather see them study than "running for life". Life of new generation is less bitter than their seniors who run to create a better future which obviously do not apply now. Since they have more options, why do they choose a hard one? Chinese sports is still like an industry type. Once they think you are a talent, they will mold you into the shape they think it is good. Furthermore, they probably only do one single thing most of the time: training, training and training. They have these sports school, provincial team and national team to mold you into the shape. What you do is to compete to come in 1st for the team and you will get rewards. After your peak is over or severe injuries, the only thing left for them is reality. There are so many bitter stories for sports champions who can't get a living after retirement. Like the runners from Ma's army, most of them are not doing so well currently after so many years. furthermore, University sports is still uncommon and incompetitive in china. Those athletes who competed in the national university games are mostly from the provincial or national teams who are just hanging the university brand names and probably never go to the school (may be exaggerating a little).
A ray of hope: When Hu Kai won men's 100m in 2005 universiade, a lot in China may think how to combine sports and eduation and take advantage of both of them. Hu is a real Qing Hua university student and he really goes to school for lecture. This case is still tip of the iceberg but I would say Chinese women distance running will probably be getting weaker with the current situation. Although there are still a lot of Chinese in hardship, there are more and more ways to make quick bucks in China. I think you know what I mean.
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Chinese swimming team for universiade 2009 in Belgrade
A day before the competition, the participant list for Chinese swimming team was announced for Universiade.
Men's 100m Backstroke
ZHANG Chang
22/04/1983
pb: 55.95
2008: 57.01 (7th in China)
Men's 100m Breaststroke
ZHU Yanbin
30/08/1988
University swimmer, not registered with Chinese swimming Association
Men's 100m Butterfly
JIN Tao
03/11/1988
2008: 56.66 (34th in China)
ZHANG Chang
22/04/1983
Not his main event
Men's 100m Freestyle
CHEN Zheng
27/09/1991
University swimmer, not registered with Chinese swimming Association in 2008
DU Wentao
20/11/1985
2004: 51.44
University swimmer, not registered with Chinese swimming Association in 2008
Men's 1500m Freestyle
ZHAO Guannan
11/02/1987
2004: 16:24.75
University swimmer, not registered with Chinese swimming Association in 2008
Men's 200m Breaststroke
LI Ziqiang
01/03/1986
2008: 2:19.29
Men's 200m Butterfly
JIN Tao
03/11/1988
2008: 2:02.18
Men's 200m Freestyle
CHEN Zheng
27/09/1991
HENG Zhicheng
23/04/1986
Men's 200m Individual Medley
LI Ziqiang
01/03/1986
2008: 2:05.28
ZHANG Zhe
11/02/1991
Men's 400m Freestyle
ZHANG Zhe
11/02/1991
ZHAO Guannan
11/02/1987
2004: 4:13.66
Men's 400m Individual Medley
LI Ziqiang
01/03/1986
2008: 4:23.37 (3rd in China)
Men's 50m Backstroke
HENG Zhicheng
23/04/1986
ZHANG Chang
22/04/1983
Men's 50m Breaststroke
ZHU Yanbin
30/08/1988
Men's 50m Butterfly
CHEN Zheng
27/09/1991
JIN Tao
03/11/1988
Men's 50m Freestyle
DU Wentao
20/11/1985
2004: 23.44 (6th in China)
ZHU Yanbin
30/08/1988
Men's 800m Freestyle
HENG Zhicheng
23/04/1986
ZHANG Zhe
11/02/1991
Women's 100m Backstroke
LIU Zhen
01/04/1988
2004: 1:03.23 (12th in China)
2005: 1:02.96
2006: 1:02.81
XU Tianlongzi
11/01/1991
2005: 1:02.65
2006: 1:01.22 (world no. 10)
2007: 1:01.06 (1st in China)
2008: 1:00.82 (2nd in China)
2009: 1:01.45
Women's 100m Breaststroke
XIE Jue
18/08/1990
2008: 1:13.03 (34th in China)
Women's 100m Butterfly
HONG Wenwen
22/08/1986
2005: 59.84
2006: 59.77
2007: 59.97
2008: 59.13 (4th in China)
2009: 58.88
JIANG Wenjing
21/01/1989
2005: 1:00.14
2006: 1:01.07
2008: 1:00.96 (16th in China)
Women's 100m Freestyle
MA Weimiao
02/02/1988
YU Yao
14/01/1991
2008: 56.45 (15th in China)
2009: 55.54
Women's 1500m Freestyle
MI Mengjiao
27/01/1990
Women's 200m Backstroke
XU Tianlongzi
11/01/1991
2005: 2:14.72
2007: 2:12.68
2008: 2:12.32
2009: 2:13.64
Women's 200m Butterfly
JIANG Wenjing
21/01/1989
2005: 2:11.35
2007: 2:14.34
2008: 2:13.76
Women's 200m Freestyle
MI Mengjiao
27/01/1990
2007: 2:01.57
2008: 2:01.08
XIA Chenying
27/07/1987
2008:2:02.42
Women's 200m Individual Medley
XIA Chenying
27/07/1987
2008: 2:17.97
XIE Jue
18/08/1990
2008: 2:15.96
Women's 400m Freestyle
MI Mengjiao
27/01/1990
2005: 4:18.13
2007: 4:16.38
2008: 4:14.29
XIA Chenying
27/07/1987
2006: 4:17.69
Women's 400m Individual Medley
JIANG Wenjing
21/01/1989
2008: 4:59.51
Women's 50m Backstroke
LIU Zhen
01/04/1988
2005: 30.10
2006: 29.29
XU Tianlongzi
11/01/1991
2005: 29.20
2006: 28.89
2007: 28.87
2008: 29.52 (split)
2009: 28.13 (world no. 10)
Women's 50m Breaststroke
LIU Zhen
01/04/1988
XIE Jue
18/08/1990
Women's 50m Butterfly
HONG Wenwen
22/08/1986
2005: 27.42
2006: 27.34
2007: 27.12
2008: 27.21
2009: 26.43
XIE Jue
18/08/1990
Women's 50m Freestyle
HONG Wenwen
22/08/1986
2008: 26.19
2009: 26.00
YU Yao
14/01/1991
2008: 26.30
2009: 25.92
Women's 800m Freestyle
MI Mengjiao
27/01/1990
2005: 8:53.47
2006: 8:51.16
Men's 100m Backstroke
ZHANG Chang
22/04/1983
pb: 55.95
2008: 57.01 (7th in China)
Men's 100m Breaststroke
ZHU Yanbin
30/08/1988
University swimmer, not registered with Chinese swimming Association
Men's 100m Butterfly
JIN Tao
03/11/1988
2008: 56.66 (34th in China)
ZHANG Chang
22/04/1983
Not his main event
Men's 100m Freestyle
CHEN Zheng
27/09/1991
University swimmer, not registered with Chinese swimming Association in 2008
DU Wentao
20/11/1985
2004: 51.44
University swimmer, not registered with Chinese swimming Association in 2008
Men's 1500m Freestyle
ZHAO Guannan
11/02/1987
2004: 16:24.75
University swimmer, not registered with Chinese swimming Association in 2008
Men's 200m Breaststroke
LI Ziqiang
01/03/1986
2008: 2:19.29
Men's 200m Butterfly
JIN Tao
03/11/1988
2008: 2:02.18
Men's 200m Freestyle
CHEN Zheng
27/09/1991
HENG Zhicheng
23/04/1986
Men's 200m Individual Medley
LI Ziqiang
01/03/1986
2008: 2:05.28
ZHANG Zhe
11/02/1991
Men's 400m Freestyle
ZHANG Zhe
11/02/1991
ZHAO Guannan
11/02/1987
2004: 4:13.66
Men's 400m Individual Medley
LI Ziqiang
01/03/1986
2008: 4:23.37 (3rd in China)
Men's 50m Backstroke
HENG Zhicheng
23/04/1986
ZHANG Chang
22/04/1983
Men's 50m Breaststroke
ZHU Yanbin
30/08/1988
Men's 50m Butterfly
CHEN Zheng
27/09/1991
JIN Tao
03/11/1988
Men's 50m Freestyle
DU Wentao
20/11/1985
2004: 23.44 (6th in China)
ZHU Yanbin
30/08/1988
Men's 800m Freestyle
HENG Zhicheng
23/04/1986
ZHANG Zhe
11/02/1991
Women's 100m Backstroke
LIU Zhen
01/04/1988
2004: 1:03.23 (12th in China)
2005: 1:02.96
2006: 1:02.81
XU Tianlongzi
11/01/1991
2005: 1:02.65
2006: 1:01.22 (world no. 10)
2007: 1:01.06 (1st in China)
2008: 1:00.82 (2nd in China)
2009: 1:01.45
Women's 100m Breaststroke
XIE Jue
18/08/1990
2008: 1:13.03 (34th in China)
Women's 100m Butterfly
HONG Wenwen
22/08/1986
2005: 59.84
2006: 59.77
2007: 59.97
2008: 59.13 (4th in China)
2009: 58.88
JIANG Wenjing
21/01/1989
2005: 1:00.14
2006: 1:01.07
2008: 1:00.96 (16th in China)
Women's 100m Freestyle
MA Weimiao
02/02/1988
YU Yao
14/01/1991
2008: 56.45 (15th in China)
2009: 55.54
Women's 1500m Freestyle
MI Mengjiao
27/01/1990
Women's 200m Backstroke
XU Tianlongzi
11/01/1991
2005: 2:14.72
2007: 2:12.68
2008: 2:12.32
2009: 2:13.64
Women's 200m Butterfly
JIANG Wenjing
21/01/1989
2005: 2:11.35
2007: 2:14.34
2008: 2:13.76
Women's 200m Freestyle
MI Mengjiao
27/01/1990
2007: 2:01.57
2008: 2:01.08
XIA Chenying
27/07/1987
2008:2:02.42
Women's 200m Individual Medley
XIA Chenying
27/07/1987
2008: 2:17.97
XIE Jue
18/08/1990
2008: 2:15.96
Women's 400m Freestyle
MI Mengjiao
27/01/1990
2005: 4:18.13
2007: 4:16.38
2008: 4:14.29
XIA Chenying
27/07/1987
2006: 4:17.69
Women's 400m Individual Medley
JIANG Wenjing
21/01/1989
2008: 4:59.51
Women's 50m Backstroke
LIU Zhen
01/04/1988
2005: 30.10
2006: 29.29
XU Tianlongzi
11/01/1991
2005: 29.20
2006: 28.89
2007: 28.87
2008: 29.52 (split)
2009: 28.13 (world no. 10)
Women's 50m Breaststroke
LIU Zhen
01/04/1988
XIE Jue
18/08/1990
Women's 50m Butterfly
HONG Wenwen
22/08/1986
2005: 27.42
2006: 27.34
2007: 27.12
2008: 27.21
2009: 26.43
XIE Jue
18/08/1990
Women's 50m Freestyle
HONG Wenwen
22/08/1986
2008: 26.19
2009: 26.00
YU Yao
14/01/1991
2008: 26.30
2009: 25.92
Women's 800m Freestyle
MI Mengjiao
27/01/1990
2005: 8:53.47
2006: 8:51.16
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