China's (L-R) Zhang Ping, Li Shan, Yang Hao and Cheng Jing celebrate their victory over Russia after their gold medal volleyball match at the Athens Olympic Games, August 28, 2004.  (Reuters)

Against high expectations, China came to Athens with a moderate goal - winning at least 20 gold medals and keeping third place on the final medal standings as it did four years ago in Sydney Games.

There were many reasons not to aim too high, one being that among the 407 athletes it sent, 323 were making their Olympic debut. Several accomplished athletes were even passed over in order to give younger athletes experience in the Athens Games so that they will be ready to deliver the goods four years later in the 2008 Beijing Games.

The final medal tally gives plenty of reasons to expect great things from China, a growing sports super-state that proved itself four years earlier in Sydney when it won an unprecedented 28 gold medals and joined the top cluster of world sports powers consisting of the United States and Russia.

China finished the Athens Games with 32 gold medals, ranking a record second place behind the United States in the final medal table, only three golds shy of the US total of 35, its best ever result in Olympic history. The US hardly kept its leading position with 35 gold medals and Russia slumped to third place with 27 gold medals.

In total medals the United States had 103, Russia 92 and China 63.

"Now I can say proudly that we have fulfilled our pre-Games goal in a perfect way," Yuan Weimin, chef-de-mission of the Chinese delegation, said about China's overall performance at the Athens Games right before the closing ceremony.

"We are very pleased that our athletes did their best."

If the Sydney victory was seen as luck, the Athens triumph soundly refutes that view and reflects the increasing investment and confidence in sports as well as inspiration from Beijing's successful bid for the 2008 Games. China is growing fast into one of the world's strongest sporting powers.

Its Athens show was awesome - besides those 63 medals, six new world records, 21 Olympic records and a tied world record were set by Chinese athletes during the Games.

But Yuan somewhat dismisses the medal number, saying that it is the broader performance of excellence in many events that pleases him the most.

"The Athens success sets a strong foundation for the overall improvement of China's sports and gives us a lot of confidence."

In Sydney, China's 28 gold medals came from nine sports and in Athens that number increased to 13, signifying that Chinese athletes developed their ability to win gold in four more sports.

Among the four sports, the biggest surprise comes from Chinese women's tennis doubles players Li Ting/Sun Tiantian. The pair, in their first Olympics, upset a field with 13 of the world's top 20 players to win the Olympic gold.

But definitely the most memorable gold belongs to Liu Xiang. The 21-year-old hurdler became the first Chinese man to win an Olympic gold on track events by winning the 110m hurdles, equalling a world record.

Chinese also made breakthroughs in another two sports - Wang Xu, a 19-year-old women's wrestler emerged as the winner in the 72-kilo category as the sport made the debut in the Olympics and Meng Guanliang/Yang Wenjun took China its first ever Olympic gold in aquatic events by winning the men's C2 500m on canoeing and kayaking flatwater.

"It showed that years of efforts made in these sports finally paid off," said Yuan. "The world has to take a new look on us with these breakthroughs."

Putting aside those surprise golds, he said China remains strong at its favourite sports like table tennis, badminton, judo, diving, shooting, gymnastics and weightlifting although challenges from the rivals are mounting.

"We managed to keep our advantage under huge pressure," Yuan said. In Athens, Chinese athletes won 22 gold medals from these seven events, five less than they did in Sydney.

"That's normal because our rivals are growing," Yuan said. "But I am very glad to see so many young Chinese athletes emerge to lead their fields."

Zhang Yining is the best example - the current world No 1 paddler came out of the shadow from her double Olympic champion teammate Wang Nan, making her the new queen of the sport with two golds from the women's singles and doubles.

What makes the Athens journey so significant is that Chinese young athletes proved that they are not only competitors but also real medal contenders. There were seven teenagers who won gold medals for China.

"Generally speaking, young athletes made an excellent performance and made themselves potential medallists for the games in Beijing in four years."

Yuan is confident China will be better in the Beijing Games but said China isn't ready to battle for the top place with the United States.

"The gap is still obvious and it can not be overcome in four years."

But he is ambitious. "It is true that we cannot shake the American advantage now but we are always thinking of the future.

"We hope we can shorten that gap as much as possible in next four years." 

(China Daily)

accomplished: skilled; expert（熟练的，有经验的）

wrestler: （摔跤选手）

aquatic: athletic activities performed in or on the water（水上的）