Speed skaters shift up a gear under new Dutch coach

HARBIN, Heilongjiang province: China's speed skaters punched above their weight at the Winter Universiade in Harbin last week to set themselves up for some silverware at next year's Vancouver Olympics, according to their Dutch coach.

"I'd just expected a medal," Sijtje van der Lende told China Daily of her initial target for the ongoing world varsity games. "The results are definitely beyond my expectations. It's the best result for the team. All my skaters have performed excellently."

China's national speed skating coach has made her presence felt since taking over the position last May. In Harbin, the sight of a blonde-haired European woman shouting instructions and encouragement to China's Lycra-wrapped skaters caused more than a few heads to turn.