Download
While most Chinese Olympic champions train at unfathomably high levels, Ye Shiwen is a little more fortunate.
The new women's 400 individual medley world record holder stole the limelight on Saturday with a time of 4 min 28.43 sec. And, by the way, she's only 16 years old.
As quiet as any other high school girl, how is it possible Ye has already achieved so much? Is she another product of China's State-run factory?
The international media has been asking that same question. Time Magazine and the (London) Guardian just unveiled stories highlighting some of the Chinese athletes' long road to London.
"I am not a robot. I am a lucky girl. I don't need to practice over and over every day," Ye said at a news conference.
According to Time, 30 members of the Chinese weightlifting squad have to repeat their routines six days a week in a pungent gym filled with sweat and chalk as they prepare for the Games.
Most of the lifters resemble workers in a factory, with little passion for their sport.
British diving star Thomas Daley recently told the Guardian that his Chinese rival Qiu Bo performs as flawlessly as a robot on a conveyor belt from the medal machine.
His remarks prompted curiosity about China's traditional means of cultivating athletes, as well as the system's tough requirements in practice.
Some though, like Ye, don't consider it too difficult.
"My training program is intense but scientifically arranged as well. I don't need to spend long hours in the pool every day, and it's not overly demanding for me," said Ye, who was sent to Australia twice for advanced training before the Games.
The same question was posed to young shooter Yi Siling, who claimed the Games' first gold medal in the women's 10m air rifle on Saturday.
"I spent a lot of time with the team, but I actually practice two hours every day - not as much as people might think," she said of her reported six-hour daily drills.
Still, hard work is part of the deal.
Ye hailed Sun's 400m free gold as a major milestone for Chinese swimming, but was just as impressed by his work ethic.
Sun also attributed his success to a lot of sweat.
"All the hard work in the past two years finally paid off, so I am too excited (to contain my emotions)," Sun said while weeping in the mixed zone.
Ye says she's not done yet. Although she's already broken the 400 IM world record, Ye Shiwen thinks she can still do better.
"I feel like I still have room to improve my stroke," Ye said. "I've strengthened my backstroke and butterfly, so I am getting better at the start. But I am still young and have some more potential in my body."
Given that the event is usually a lead-up to her favorite event - the 200 IM - her future does indeed appear bright.
Ye's current time of 4 min 28.43 sec is nearly seven seconds faster than she clocked at last year's world championships, where she won the 200m title.
"I dreamed of winning the gold medal, but I never ever expected to break the record. So I am overwhelmed," she said.
About the broadcaster:
Rosie Tuck is a copy editor at the China Daily website. She was born in New Zealand and graduated from Auckland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Communications studies majoring in journalism and television. In New Zealand she was working as a junior reporter for the New Zealand state broadcaster TVNZ. She is in Beijing on an Asia New Zealand Foundation grant, working as a journalist in the English news department at the China Daily website.
2017届高考英语一轮复习语法专题提分考点课件:10.2.1 从属连词
2017届高考英语一轮复习课件:book4 module3 Body Language and Nonverbal Communication(外研版)
2017届高考英语一轮复习语法专题提分考点课件:10.2.3 从属连词
2017届高考英语一轮复习课件:book2 module6 Films and TV Programmes(外研版)
2017届高考英语一轮复习课件:book5 module4 Carnival(外研版)
2017届高考英语一轮复习课件:book4 module4 Great Scientists(外研版)
2017届高考英语一轮复习课件:book5 module5 The Great Sports Personality(外研版)
2017届高考英语一轮复习词法课件:名词(全国通用)
2017届高考英语一轮复习课件:book6 module3 Interpersonal Relationship—Friendship(外研版)
2017届高考英语一轮复习课件:book4 module6 Unexplained Mysteries of the Natural World(外研版)
2017届高考英语一轮复习语法专题提分考点课件:7 冠词
2017届高考英语一轮复习语法专题提分考点课件:8 代词
2017届高考英语一轮复习课件:book6 module4 Music(外研版)
2017届高考英语一轮复习课件:book7 module1-3(外研版)
2017届高考英语一轮复习课件:book6 module1 Small Talk(外研版)
2017届高考英语一轮复习课件:book8 module4-6(外研版)
2017届高考英语一轮复习语法专题提分考点课件:6 词类转换
2017届高考英语一轮复习课件:book3 module6 Old and New(外研版)
2017届高考英语一轮复习课件:book2 module3 Music(外研版)
2017届高考英语一轮复习课件:book4 module1 Life in the Future(外研版)
2017届高考英语一轮复习课件:book5 module6 Animals in Danger(外研版)
2017届高考英语一轮复习课件:book3 module1 Europe(外研版)
2017届高考英语一轮复习课件:book1 module2 My New Teachers(外研版)
2017届高考英语一轮复习语法专题提分考点课件:10.2.2 从属连词
2017届高考英语一轮复习课件:book2 module4 Fine Arts—Western, Chinese and Pop Arts(外研版)
2017届高考英语一轮复习课件:book6 module6 War and Peace(外研版)
2017届高考英语一轮复习词法课件:构词法(全国通用)
2017届高考英语一轮复习课件:book1 module4 A Social Survey—My Neighbourhood(外研版)
2017届高考英语一轮复习语法专题提分考点课件:12 强调句和倒装句
2017届高考英语一轮复习课件:book2 module1 Our Body and Healthy Habits(外研版)