Looking for a berth after giving birth

China's 2004 Olympic judo champion Xian Dongmei (right) launched a strong comeback after giving birth to her first child in January, helping China to win its first world team title in Beijing last week. Her unexpected form makes her a hot candidate for the nation's Olympic team in the 2008 Games. Xinhua

But the 32-year-old judo world champion, who gave birth to her first child in January, returned to the mat only four months later and is now preparing to compete in her first Olympic Games.

"There are a lot of people coming to me and saying 'God, you shouldn't be there, you are a new mom'," said Xian. "I simply don't want to miss the chance to compete at the Olympics at home because I don't think I will have a second chance like this in my life. No matter how hard my new career will be, I have to take a try."

A gold medalist in the 52kg division at the Athens Games in 2004, Xian began her comeback last weekend at the World Team Championships. It was her first international event since she retired after the Tenth National Games in 2005, deciding to devote her energies to motherhood rather than judo.

But against all the odds, she recaptured her thrill for the game and led her team to successive victories over Algeria, Russia and Cuba to lift China's first trophy of the tournament at Chaoyang Gymnasium in Beijing.

Xian's comeback essentially inducted her into the "Super Mom Club", which boasts a number of high-profile women's athletes.

Paula Radcliffe's incredible New York Marathon win earlier this month, less than a year after giving birth to her first child, followed Jana Rawlinson's return from childbirth to win gold in the 400m hurdles at the world championships in Osaka in August.

Japanese double Olympic judo champion Ryoko Tani also won her seventh under-48kg world crown in September, her first as a mother.

Like the other three, Xian said the difficulties of pregnancy and labor improved her athletic prowess, giving her more confidence and strength, both mental and physical.

"Having a child has made me more balanced as a woman, and that helps my competition a lot," said Xian. "Also, taking time out from the sport makes you realize how much you love it, helping make things stronger and better when you come back.

Xian said pregnancy gave her a chance to take an "enforced rest" from compretion, but that didn't mean she couldn't come back.

"Giving birth doesn't necessarily mean you have to end your career," she said. "Sometimes an athlete can even play better after that."

While the Olympics remain a force in her life, nothing can replace the new baby for Xian, who structures her training schedule around the little one.

"The first thing I do after a training session is to see my daughter on internet video," she said. "Sometimes I tell stories to her on the web.

"I miss her so much, she was just four-months old when I returned to the gym. As a mother, I am also very worried about her health because I cannot feed her."

Xian claimed a decisive win in the under-52kg division to give China a 4-2 victory over Cuba in the seven-set final last weekend.

Her unexpected success will see her once again considered the hot favorite for the Olympic team, and if all goes well in the winter training camp in Beijing, Xian will get to defend her 52kg gold medal at the Beijing Games.

However, she takes nothing for granted.

"You would think I would be a sure bet for the Games next year, just because I won a gold medal three years ago," Xian said. "But I have to fight and fight because there is only one berth in my category with tons of young athletes coming up while I was out.

"I'm fit now, but the physical part is my weakness since I've just been back for no more than half a year."

China has a strong team outside of Xian, with the 2005 world champion Li Ying wining in Cairo and the newly crowned world champion Shi Junjie winning in Rio de Janeiro.

"Although the competition within the national team is tough, I have confidence to represent China in 2008," she said. "My sporting spirit is staying the same and mental part and experience are my advantages, but first of all I still have to polish my techniques.

"I think it's a good thing for China's judo that we have a strong team in a category, which the Chinese have been leading for a long time," she added.

Xian's solid comeback has impressed national team head coach Fu Guoyi, who said the veteran is on the candidate list for China's Olympic roster but still has a long road ahead before she'll know if she is in.

"She's in good form right now, but far from reaching her peak. It's hard to say now which one of the trio will finally be given the ticket," the coach said.

Fu said the upcoming tournaments would be crucial for the athletes.

"We'll have two more trials before having the final say for the Olympic roster, and every other tournament besides the trials will also be counted while valuating the performance of each judoka," he said. "Xian, however, is in steady paces in improving herself on all aspects, physically, technically and mentally, though she's just come back for a short time."

China Daily

(China Daily 11/21/2007 page22)