JINAN, East China, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) — Led by Olympic champion Liu Zige and world champion Zhang Lin, a record of 525 swimmers expect to make a big splash without the swim suit war at the 11th Chinese National Games to kick off on Oct. 16.
During the swimming competition which starts from Oct. 17, the swimmers from 24 provincial teams, Hong Kong, and the Chinese Army will compete in 32 events.
Four years ago, three Asian records and eight national marks were smashed in Nanjing, South China.
Chinese swimmers collected one gold three silver two bronze medals at the Beijing Olympic Games and scored 4-2-4 with world records at the Rome World Championships in August this year.
Zhang Lin, Olympic men’s 400 deters freestyle silver medalist and 800m free champion in Rome, will compete in six events, including 100, 200, 400 and 1500 free and two free relays.
“It will be a great challenge to my endurance. I hope to improve myself,” said the 22-year-old from Beijing.
As a triple winner of the last National Games four years ago, Zhang will set a showdown against butterfly swimmer Wu Peng of Zhejiang province.
Zhang said: “I don’t care about the titles, but I do want to swim my best. I’ve found many weakness since I won the 800m world champion two months ago.”
Wu, who grabbed four titles last time and will show up in the 200m butterfly, 200m backstroke, 400m individual medley and relays.
“I plan to break my own national record in the 200 butterfly,” said the silver medalist in 2007 Melbourne worlds.
Liu Zige, underdog winner of the women’s 200m butterfly at the Olympic Games, will concentrate on her trade mark events of 200 and100 butterfly.
“Butterfly is the only stroke I feel comfortable,” Liu smiled.
Newly-crowned world champions Zhao Jing in the women’s back will try to defend her reputation in both 100 and 200.
While other winning relay team members in Rome, including Jiao Liuyang, Liu Jing, Li Zhesi, Zhu Qianwei, Tang Yi also expect to improve their personal best.
Jiao, runner-up to Liu in the 200m butterfly at Beijing Olympic Games, finished third in the 100m in Rome, said: “I’ll swim 100 and200 butterfly and 50m free. I really like 200 butterfly,”
Aware of the high-tech suit war, the organizers announced only five brands can be used at the Games as three international brands, including all styles of Speedo, Blueseventy and Nike and two national brands, Yingfa and Few.
Yuan Haoran, director of the swimming section of the Chinese Swimming Association, said: “We hope our swimmers can achieve more good results, breaking more world records without the help of high-tech swim suits.”
