Overseas training program pays off
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China Daily, August 2, 2011
Sending its best abroad, the Chinese swimming team's overseas training programs paid off as the squad only trailed the dominant United States on the final medal table at the Shanghai World Championships.
China's four gold medalists all trained overseas, which obviously helped them to success in Shanghai.
New sensation Sun Yang was sent to train in Australia with Olympic medalist Grant Hackett's mentor, Dennis Cotterell, for two months earlier this year. He went on to break Hackett's 1,500m freestyle world record in Shanghai. The record had stood for 10 years, including during the super-fast hi-tech suit era, until Sun smashed it on Sunday.
Ye Shiwen, the 15-year-old women's 200m individual medley titlist, also trained in Australia before the worlds and improved her under-water stroke and turning skills significantly along with 100m backstroke champion, Zhao Jing, who practiced under Cotterell's guidance before last year's Asian Games.
The legendary Aussies coach also instructed China's new female 200m butterfly champion, Jiao Liuyang, for a short period in May.
"It was the toughest training I have ever experienced. After the eight-week taxing scheme, I improved a lot in speed and endurance. I'll go back there for another three-month training session before the London Games," Sun said of his Australia sojourn.
Meanwhile, Ye's personal coach, Xu Guoyi, said: "She was strong in freestyle and backstroke but weak in the other two. The Australian training has helped her to improve on her weak side and we will go back there (this month)."
Apart from the youngsters, veterans also improved their form after training overseas.
China's three-time worlds medalist, Wu Peng, emerged from a career slump to grab a bronze medal in the men's 200m butterfly after a five-month US training, which started in January. During that period, Wu regained his confidence and beat Michael Phelps twice in the 200m fly.
"We can see the results of the foreign campaigns. It will definitely be a trend for us to enhance through international exchanges," said Li Hua, secretary general of the Chinese Swimming Association.
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