OLYMPICS/ Team china
Fledgling Li awaits success in the pool
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-09-26 11:32
CHONGQING -- Li Xuanxu stood dumbly at a corner of the athletes tunnel, twiddling the belt of her backpack. It's hard to believe that the diminutive 13-year-old girl had won three national titles within five months.
Li Xuanxu shows her golden medal at a competition in May 2007. [Xinhua]
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Although Chinese top all-round swimmer Qi Hui was absent at the on-going national championships, the women's individual medley events were still full of appeal because of the budding star.
Li, a Hunan native, came under the spotlight at the Spring national meet in May when she won the golds in women's 200 meters and 400 meters individual medley and both of her results were under the Olympic qualifying A standard.
"I've never heard of her name until this meet," said Chinese national head coach Zhang Yadong at Guangdong this May. "I was surprised by her results, because she is just 13 year old."
Li won the 400 meters individual medley in four minutes and 38.54 seconds, a result that is good enough for a sixth placing in this year's world rankings.
However, Li's coach Feng Zhen tried to played down acclaims from the media.
"Li achieved good results at Guangdong because she was in top form after systematic training for a whole winter," said Feng.
"But she is a little girl and lacks experience. She is rather volatile especially when she could not get training normally."
Li breezily took victory in the 400 meters individual medley here on Sunday, but she shook her head while talking about her time of 4:43.18.
"I'm not satisfied with the result," a downhearted Li said after the race. "I swam even slower than I did in Japan."
The teenager took part in her first international meet at the Japan Open in late August, finishing fourth in 4:41.13.
Feng said Li was dragged behind by frequent competition.
"She is only 13 year old. She should have spent much more time in training so as to improve her skills," said Feng.
"Actually, her result should have been improved this time. But our training schedule was disrupted due to Japan Open for almost one month," Feng added.
A tired Li even lost interest in claiming her fourth national title. As the top qualifier in the 200 meters four-stroke event, Li touched the wall last in Tuesday's final, lagging behind the gold medallist Jiao Liuyang in 20 seconds.
"After this championships, we had to compete at the National City Games in October," Feng grumbled. "We had no way to take a long period of extensive training."
Feng didn't believe Li could make a big success at the Beijing Olympics even if she has qualified.
"If she could continuously make progress, we may expect the 2012 Olympic Games," said Feng.
Li also thought next year's Olympics was beyond her ability.
"I've never dreamed about the 2008 Olympics. I'm lacking power and speed. I'm yet competitive at the world level," said Li.
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