China out to sweep world golds
Source: AFP |
July 20, 2013, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA'S divers are looking for another gold medal clean sweep when the world aquatic championships starts today in Barcelona, Spain, as the swimming world adjusts to life without pool legend Michael Phelps.
Having quit after London 2012, where he collected a record 18th Olympic gold medal, Phelps, 28, will only be a spectator at the Palau Sant Jordi stadium.
The eight-day swimming section runs from July 28-August 4, but China's divers will be in action today, hoping to repeat the 10 gold medals they achieved from 10 diving events at the 2011 world championships on home turf in Shanghai.
China finished with six of the eight gold diving medals on offer at London 2012, as reigning world champion Qiu Bo's failed to add 10m platform Olympic gold to his world title despite dominating the 2011 Diving Series.
But the 20-year-old has a new dive planned for Barcelona.
"I lost at the Olympic Games because I was struggling with illness, which had influenced my training," he said, with his British rival Tom Daley doubtful after suffering from glandular fever.
"I will show a new dive in Spain, which has a high difficulty rating, and I hope I can dive it well."
When the swimming starts, teenage US star Missy Franklin competes in eight events, looking to emulate Phelps, who won eight golds at Beijing in 2008.
The 18-year-old Franklin claimed five Olympics medals, including four golds, in the London pool last year and set herself up for another strong international showing with world-leading times in the 100m and 200m backstrokes at June's US trials.
China's swim team, led by teen phenom Ye Shiwen and distance specialist Sun Yang, will also bid to chip away at the United States' pool supremacy.
Sun, 21, led his country to its best Olympic performance in London, snaring two gold medals and smashing his own 1500m world record as China finished with five titles.
Ye, who is still only 17, will also be in the spotlight as she tries to defend her 200m individual medley world title and again cast off the speculation that accompanied her gold medals in London. Ye raised eyebrows when she obliterated the 400m medley world record with a sensational freestyle lap, timing faster over the final leg than men's winner Ryan Lochte a few races earlier.
Having quit after London 2012, where he collected a record 18th Olympic gold medal, Phelps, 28, will only be a spectator at the Palau Sant Jordi stadium.
The eight-day swimming section runs from July 28-August 4, but China's divers will be in action today, hoping to repeat the 10 gold medals they achieved from 10 diving events at the 2011 world championships on home turf in Shanghai.
China finished with six of the eight gold diving medals on offer at London 2012, as reigning world champion Qiu Bo's failed to add 10m platform Olympic gold to his world title despite dominating the 2011 Diving Series.
But the 20-year-old has a new dive planned for Barcelona.
"I lost at the Olympic Games because I was struggling with illness, which had influenced my training," he said, with his British rival Tom Daley doubtful after suffering from glandular fever.
"I will show a new dive in Spain, which has a high difficulty rating, and I hope I can dive it well."
When the swimming starts, teenage US star Missy Franklin competes in eight events, looking to emulate Phelps, who won eight golds at Beijing in 2008.
The 18-year-old Franklin claimed five Olympics medals, including four golds, in the London pool last year and set herself up for another strong international showing with world-leading times in the 100m and 200m backstrokes at June's US trials.
China's swim team, led by teen phenom Ye Shiwen and distance specialist Sun Yang, will also bid to chip away at the United States' pool supremacy.
Sun, 21, led his country to its best Olympic performance in London, snaring two gold medals and smashing his own 1500m world record as China finished with five titles.
Ye, who is still only 17, will also be in the spotlight as she tries to defend her 200m individual medley world title and again cast off the speculation that accompanied her gold medals in London. Ye raised eyebrows when she obliterated the 400m medley world record with a sensational freestyle lap, timing faster over the final leg than men's winner Ryan Lochte a few races earlier.
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