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Zhang shuns high-tech suit in Hong Kong
Source: Agencies |
December 8, 2009, Tuesday
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WITH new rules taking effect from January 1 that ban full-body high-performance suits, many swimmers are deploying them for one last time at the East Asian Games in Hong Kong.
Except 800-meter freestyle world champion Zhang Lin.
Competing in the 200-meter freestyle, the 22-year-old Chinese swimmer wore a suit that only extended from his waist to his knees. He was the only competitor in his race to wear an outfit that will still be sanctioned under the new rules.
Zhang finished third, losing to two Japanese wearing high-tech suits.
"I think it will be good for me to get used to it ahead of time," he said.
Zhang refused to blame his loss on the swimsuit, saying he was tired after a busy season. "I had too many races this year, so it's a little difficult for me to swim a good result right now. I will keep working hard next year," he said.
Zhang finished in 1 minute, 49.59 seconds, more than three seconds behind the winner, Japan's Yoshihiro Okumura, who posted a time of 1:46.37.
Zhang's teammate, women's 200-meter butterfly Olympic champion Liu Zige, said yesterday she was confident she coul0064 keep breaking world records without the high-performance suits.
But Zhang wasn't so sure.
"It's hard to say ... The short swimsuits will make higher demands during our training. I hope I will train better in the future," he said.
"It will be a test of our training, our personal ability," said another top Chinese swimmer, Gao Chang, bronze medalist at the world championships in Rome in the 50-meter backstroke.
Despite the popularity of high-speed suits, no world records have been broken so far in Hong Kong.
China and Japan won four gold medals each in the pool yesterday. China's women won the 200-meter individual medley, the 50 backstroke, the 50 butterfly and the 4x200 freestyle relay, while Japan's men won the 200 freestyle, the 50 butterfly, the 200 backstroke and the 800 freestyle.
South Korea came within one win of sweeping the taekwondo competition, clinching five out of six gold medals. South Korea also picked up a bowling gold, with Hwang Sun-ok and Shin Bo-hyun posting a one-two finish in the women's singles. Toshihiko Takahashi of Japan won the men's singles.
In table tennis, China redeemed losses in the women's doubles, the mixed doubles and women's team competition by locking up gold in the men's singles, with Xu Xin and Zhang Jike both winning their semifinals. They also teamed up to win the men's doubles.
In other golds for China, Zhu Qinan won the men's 10m air rifle, Yang Lian won in women's weightlifting in the 48kg division, and Long Qingquan triumphed in the men's 56kg.
Except 800-meter freestyle world champion Zhang Lin.
Competing in the 200-meter freestyle, the 22-year-old Chinese swimmer wore a suit that only extended from his waist to his knees. He was the only competitor in his race to wear an outfit that will still be sanctioned under the new rules.
Zhang finished third, losing to two Japanese wearing high-tech suits.
"I think it will be good for me to get used to it ahead of time," he said.
Zhang refused to blame his loss on the swimsuit, saying he was tired after a busy season. "I had too many races this year, so it's a little difficult for me to swim a good result right now. I will keep working hard next year," he said.
Zhang finished in 1 minute, 49.59 seconds, more than three seconds behind the winner, Japan's Yoshihiro Okumura, who posted a time of 1:46.37.
Zhang's teammate, women's 200-meter butterfly Olympic champion Liu Zige, said yesterday she was confident she coul0064 keep breaking world records without the high-performance suits.
But Zhang wasn't so sure.
"It's hard to say ... The short swimsuits will make higher demands during our training. I hope I will train better in the future," he said.
"It will be a test of our training, our personal ability," said another top Chinese swimmer, Gao Chang, bronze medalist at the world championships in Rome in the 50-meter backstroke.
Despite the popularity of high-speed suits, no world records have been broken so far in Hong Kong.
China and Japan won four gold medals each in the pool yesterday. China's women won the 200-meter individual medley, the 50 backstroke, the 50 butterfly and the 4x200 freestyle relay, while Japan's men won the 200 freestyle, the 50 butterfly, the 200 backstroke and the 800 freestyle.
South Korea came within one win of sweeping the taekwondo competition, clinching five out of six gold medals. South Korea also picked up a bowling gold, with Hwang Sun-ok and Shin Bo-hyun posting a one-two finish in the women's singles. Toshihiko Takahashi of Japan won the men's singles.
In table tennis, China redeemed losses in the women's doubles, the mixed doubles and women's team competition by locking up gold in the men's singles, with Xu Xin and Zhang Jike both winning their semifinals. They also teamed up to win the men's doubles.
In other golds for China, Zhu Qinan won the men's 10m air rifle, Yang Lian won in women's weightlifting in the 48kg division, and Long Qingquan triumphed in the men's 56kg.
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