China aerials jumping for Olympic gold
By Lei Lei (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-12-21 07:08

"Xu has come back from her knee injury. It is fantastic for her confidence that is really high now," Wilson said.

Xu expressed her confidence as well after winning in Changchun, China's northeast Jilin province, last weekend.

"My aim is surely to win a gold in Turin Olympic Games. Not only me, but the whole of the Chinese team has the same goal now. Our team is strong in stability and has a profound overall strength," said Xu.

"I will do my best in Turin and I won't think too much about of the results. I will improve my movements in the air and further stabilize my landings in the future."

Besides Xu, Li is another important team member for China's success next year.

However, she unfortunately sustained a waist injury during a training session early this month, and thus missed the two stops of the World Cup in Changchun.

An X-ray showed that cold weather had led to the injury but it would not affect her bid for a gold medal in Turin. She has recovered quickly and is getting ready for the competition's next stop in Canada next January.

Before the injury, Li won both the two stops that she attended in Australia and is ranked in second place right after Xu in the overall standings.

"With Xu's rich experience, Li's stability of performing and Guo's complex jumps, the whole team is confident about good results in the Olympics," said Ji Dong, another coach of the team.

The fourth slot yet to be announced for the final Olympic entry list is still unknown, since the coaches reckon that many other young girls showed good form in the competitions.

With the absence of Li in the last two stops in Changchun, Wang Jiao, 19, claimed a gold while Zhao Shanshan, 18, and Zhang Xin, 20, both took the second place.

The coach spoke highly of these youths as well.

"They are younger members of the team. What I found great is that they've been training with the other girls very hard," said Wilson.

"We give a higher level of training for Xu, Guo and Li. That plays an important role in the training sessions. It is a strong team and everybody works hard together."