Chinese swimmers eye 2-3 golds at 2008 Olypmpics
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-11-26 16:16

Chinese swimmers are expected to win two to three gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, an official of the Chinese Swimming Association (CSA) said in Beijing on Saturday.

It is the first time that the CSA unveiled its goal for the Games to be held on home soil.

"As the hosts of the Olympic Games, we hope to grab two to three golds and three to five medals," said CSA vice president Shang Xiutang.

"I know it's tough but we will try our best," he added.

China claimed one gold in women's 100 meters breaststroke and one silver in women's 4X200m freestyle relay at last year's Athens Olympics.

"Our swimmers should have had better performances in Athens. I think we still have much to improve, such as strokes, starts, turns and sprints," Shang said.

Zhang Yadong, coach of Olympic champion Luo Xuejuan, was named head coach of the national team this week, giving Chinese swimming a huge boost in the build up to the 2008 Olympics.

"Our confidence are not based on the performances at the recent National Games and East Asian Games, but come from the disappointments over the last few years, like in Athens and at this year's worlds," said Zhang.

The 41-year-old Zhang guided Luo to five golds from the 2001 and 2003 world championships.

Chinese swimmers produced a handful of world top ten results of the season at the National Games in October as well as in the East Asian Games in Macao early November. However, they only won a silver and four bronzes at the Montreal worlds in July.

"We could learn more lessons from the losses than from the victory. We had enough failures in the past," Zhang said.

Zhang named the breaststroke, individual medley, mid-distance freestyle, freestyle and medley relay events as China's medal prospects.

"My plan is to strengthen team work and improve the coaching skills. I'm confident of Chinese swimming," Zhang said.