Sun expected to rise in Olympic pool

Swimming

In the pool, Chinese swimmers should make a big splash after the confidence they gained at last year's FINA Shanghai World Championships, and Sun Yang has emerged as the team's new leader.

The 20-year-old broke Australian Grant Hackett's 10-year-old world record in the 1.500m in Shanghai, and will try to scoop another gold in his duel in the 200 and 400 against Korean world champion Park Tae-hwan.

Veteran butterfly specialist Wu Peng will provide another medal hope in the 200, where the 25-year-old beat US 14-time Olympic champion Michael Phelps at the Charlotte Grand Prix in May.

Meanwhile, Beijing Olympic champion Liu Zige and world champion Jiao Liuyang are tipped to battle for a gold in the women's 200 butterfly while teenager Ye Shiwen hopes to grab the 200 individual medley title.

Zhao Jing, the 100 backstroker, should also be in the hunt for a medal, along with the women's 4x200 freestyle and 4x100 medley relay teams.

Boasting at least four gold hopes, the contingent is in position to surpass its haul at the Bejing Games in London, said Shang Xiutang, vice-president of the Chinese Swimming Administrative Center.

China claimed one gold, three silver and two bronze medals in Beijing four years ago, with favorite Zhang Lin becoming the nation's first male Olympic swimming medalist. However, Zhang was edged out of the London squad due to a slump that led to his failure in national qualification events.

RESULTS AT PREVIOUS OLYMPICS

2004 Athens Games: 1 gold medal (women's 100m breaststroke), 1 silver medal (women's 4x200m freestyle relay)

2008 Beijing Games: 1 gold medal (women's 200m butterfly), 3 silver medals (men's 400m freestyle, women's 200m butterfly, women's 4x200m freestyle relay), 2 bronze medals (women's 200m freestyle, women's 4x100m medley relay)

China Daily's gold-medal projection for London: 4 gold medals

ROSTER

Men: Chen Cheng, Chen Weiwu, Chen Yin, Chen Zuo, Cheng Feiyi, Dai Jun, Hao Yun, He Jianbin, Huang Yunkun, Jiang Haiqi, Li Xiayan, Li Yunqi, Lu Zhiwu, Shi Yang, Shi Tengfei, Sun Yang, Wang Shun, Wang Chengxiang, Wu Peng, Xu Jiayu, Yang Zhixian, Zhang Enjian, Zhang Fenglin, Zhou Jiawei

Women: Bai Anqi, Chen Qian, Fang Yanqiao, Fu Yuanhui, Gao Chang, Ji Liping, Jiao Liuyang, Li Jiaxing, Li Xuanxu, Liu Jing, Liu Xiaoyu, Liu Zige, Lu Ying, Pang Jiaying, Qiu Yuhan, Shao Yiwen, Song Wenyan, Sun Ye, Tang Yi, Wang Haibing, Wang Shijia, Xin Xin, Yao Yige, Ye Shiwen, Zhao Jin, Zhao Jing, Zhu Qianwei

STARS TO WATCH

SUN YANG (below), 20

Birth place: Hangzhou, Zhejiang province

Highlights: 2011 World Aquatics Championships men's 1,500m freestyle champion (world record), men's 800m freestyle champion, men's 400m freestyle runner-up

The Olympic rookie will shoulder China's hopes in the men's events in the pool after Beijing Olympic runner-up Zhang Lin missed out on the London Games due to declining form. At the 2011 FINA World Championships, Sun broke the world record in the 1,500m freestyle, long held by Australia's Grant Hackett.

Ye Shiwen, 16  

Birth place: Hangzhou, Zhejiang province

Highlights: 2010 FINA World Cup (Beijing leg) women's 200m individual medley gold, 400m individual medley gold, 100m freestyle gold, 2011 World Championships women's 200m individual medley gold

The young swimmer has been considered a potential champion at the London Games since she claimed two gold medals in the women's 200m and 400m individual medleys at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games at the age of 14. It won't be a surprise if Ye, China's youngest world championship winner, overwhelms a veteran field to win her first Olympic title in London.