Chinese distance runners draw a blank in Helsinki
By Chen Xiangfeng (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-08-08 05:37

Paid for fatigue

With the memory an unexpected gold at Athens still fresh, Xing's out-of-medal finish was a bitter pill for the nation's sports fans to swallow.

Wang Dexian, Xing and Sun's coach said the pair had paid the price for participating in too many competitions leading up to the Worlds.

"The gap is not the personal ability. The main reason is their physical problems," said Wang.

Wang said Sun still had not recovered from running two consecutive marathon competitions after the Athens and then a half marathon before going to Hefei and Changsha for the national athletics championships earlier this year.

As for Xing, coach Wang said celebration activities after the Athens Games had a big effect besides the tight competition schedule.

"Xing took part in many celebration activities after the Athens Games. She worked very hard but there was not enough time to take her form back to a high level," Wang said.

Aiming high

Despite the loss here, Xing believes she still has a great potential.

Xing's gold at Athens was the second for the Chinese women in the Olympic track event. Wang Junxia, took the 5,000m gold medal in the Atlanta Olympics.

"I made rapid progress after joining coach Wang Dexian's camp and training with Sun," said the 22-year-old Xing, who was born in East China's Shandong Province.

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