China's gymnastics chief Gao Jian said on Friday that Chinese
gymnasts should not get high-headed despite a string of victories
this year.
"China has returned to the top of the gymnastics world this
year," said Gao, director of the Chinese gymnastics administrative
center. "As we are preparing for the Beijing Olympics, we should
never get complacent."
Chinese gymnasts have just returned from the World Cup Final in
Brazil, where they swept four out of 10 titles at stake.
Li Xiaopeng triumphed in the parallel bars to snatch his 14th
major title, equaling a Chinese national team record held by
legendary Li Ning.
Xiao Qin won the pommel horse while Chen Fei and Li Ya claimed
the women's vault and beam respectively.
Four golds came after China's triumphant campaigns in the world
championships in Aarhus, Denmark, and the Asian Games in Doha.
In the world championships, China walked away with eight gold
medals, including its first ever women's team gold.
In Doha, China continued its overwhelming dominance in Asia by
sweeping 11 gold medals, only one less than the 12 titles in the
Busan Asian Games.
China sent a squad of world champions in six apparatus including
Cheng Fei (women's vault, floor exercise), Yang Wei (men's
all-around, parallel bars), Xiao Qin (pommel horse), Chen Yibing
(rings).
China's only stunning loss came at the pommel horse with "Pommel
King" Xiao and Yang Wei both falling from the horse.
China swept the men's and women's team titles without much
trouble. Yang Wei, triple world champion, was crowned in four
events -- men's team, all-around, rings and parallel bars.
Cheng Fei, also the triple gold medallist at the Aarhus worlds,
grabbed three golds from women's team, floor and vault.
Chen Yibing was crowned the king of rings. Teenager He Ning and
Zou Kai notched up the women's all-around and men's floor gold
medals.
Veteran Zhang Nan cruised to easy victory on beam after the
team's honor.
China added six silvers to their stack of medals, producing
plenty of podium finishers.
(Xinhua News Agency December 23, 2006)
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