Novel training methods, unprecedented scientific insight, or simply hard work and a talent pool of 1.3 billion people?

Weightlifting experts from around the world are striving to uncover the secret behind the success of China, which was expected to win one-third of the 15 Olympic weightlifting gold medals on offer but has already beaten that target.

Chinese coaches and athletes say there is no secret - just a tough training routine and the determination to win.

Cao Lei of China sets an Olympic record of 128kg in the women's 75kg Group A weightlifting snatch competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 15, 2008. [Agencies]

"Weightlifting depends on strength and so our women weightlifters have fully understood the importance of strength and pick up gold medals," said Olympic champion Cao Lei.

Cao brought home China's seventh weightlifting gold of the Games in the 75kg class Friday. Hours later, in the men's 85kg contest, Lu Yong won the eighth.

China's female lifters have been especially impressive, not only because they have won every competition they entered but also because of their style. Cao and her compatriot Chen Xiexia appeared to lift the barbell with astonishing ease and assurance that contrasted with their groaning, straining challengers.

At the Olympics, Chen lifted 13kg more, Cao 16kg more, and gold medalist Liu Chunhong, 31kg more than their closest rival - this in a sport where there is often just a single kilogram between gold and silver.

Some speculate that China has unlocked a new technique which allows women in particular to achieve unprecedented results.

Andrew Charniga, an international weightlifting federation official, has watched the Chinese women train and suspects the secret could be in a long warm-up. While a long warm-up can exhaust men, it possibly has the opposite effect on women, allowing them to take on higher and higher loads.

"It's a training method that is unique. They think women can do more loading than a man," he said.

Tamas Ajan, the president of the federation, puts their success down to the country's sports schools.

Agencies