China's swimmers get a taste of home

Chinese swimmers no longer need to worry about their diet during the London Olympics as professional chefs will cater to their needs.

The first group of Chinese swimmers headed to England on Monday to prepare for the Olympics.

Some members of the swimming team will stay at the University of Bath before the games begin. Chinese media has reported that each dormitory room features a kitchen, which will allow chefs to cook Chinese cuisine for the athletes. The students' canteen at the university will also provide Chinese food.

Other Chinese swimmers, at the University of Leeds, will also be able to enjoy home cooking abroad. Chinese media has reported the university has sent its chefs to a local Chinese restaurant to learn how to cook authentic Chinese food. The swimmers will also be able to buy Chinese snacks and pickles at the supermarkets of both universities.

China's 51 swimmers will head to London in four groups. Sun Yang, who broke the world record in the men's 1,500m freestyle at the 2011 FINA World Championships in Shanghai, will go with the third group.

The 21-year-old loves seafood and is rumored to be able eat an amount of food that would normally feed four men. Sun trains overseas most of the time and is also used to Western food. However, he still enjoys Chinese dishes and his coach Zhu Zhigen is apparently a good cook.