OLYMPICS/ Team china
At peace in open water
By Yu Yilei (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-08-31 09:43
As Chinese swimmers struggle to catch up with the world's best in anticipation of next year's Beijing Games, distance swimmer Yang Jieqiao has found some hope after winning the national qualifiers for Olympic open water competition twice in world-class times.
As the likes of Grant Hackett join the shoal of fast pool swimmers to race in open waters and try their luck at the inaugural Olympic 10km in Beijing, Yang, the Asian champion of the women's 400m freestyle, found some success.
Earlier this month in Tianjin, Yang triumphed at the National Marathon Swimming Championships, also the second leg of the national qualifiers for Beijing Games. It took her 2 hours 8 minutes and 0.96 seconds. She also won the first leg qualifier held in Fujian Province in a time of 2:03.18.
The double victory nearly made her the country's absolute choice for the Beijing Olympics. Her time in Fujian also surprised many fans as it was the sixth fastest in the world this season.
"I think I am somewhat good at open water swimming which requires more endurance than the regular swimming in the pool," Yang said of her switch from pool to open water after winning the race in her hometown Tianjin.
The 17-year-old Yang is seen as the cream of China's new swimming generation after she won two golds during the 800m and 1,500m freestyle at the National Games in Nanjing two years ago.
Her improvement was steady as she took the gold in the 400m during the 2006 Doha Asian Games. However, her times in the pool were not competitive - she ranked 12th in both the 400m and 800m so far this season.
Chinese officials think Yang could have a better chance in open water swimming as many distance swimming greats, such as France's Olympic champion Laure Manaudou and Kate Ziegler of the United States show little interest in swimming anywhere but in a standard pool.
"I think our women swimmers are world class," said Shang Xiutang, deputy director of China's national swimming administrative center. "I hope Yang can pursue the gold during the event in Beijing."
Yang will take part in next April's World Marathon Swimming Championships where the top 12 finishers will qualify for Beijing Games.
However, she seems to be a sure bet for China which, as host, is given one automatic berth for the event.
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