| Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, November 19, 2001 |
Chinese Army Swimmer Wins 3rd Gold at China's National Games |
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Zhang Liang from the Chinese Army became the most decorated swimmer at the on- going China's national games by winning her third gold medal from the swimming pool for the quadrennial event Sunday in Guangzhou.
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Zhang Liang from the Chinese Army became the most decorated swimmer at the on- going China's national games by winning her third gold medal from the swimming pool for the quadrennial event Sunday in Guangzhou.
Zhang clocked a new Asian record time of eight minutes 26.46 seconds in the women's 800 meters freestyle final to beat the former Asian mark's holder, Chen Hua from Zhejiang Province by six hundredths of second.
Zhang has won the earlier 200m and 400m freestyle races, both in the world's fastest time of the year.
The results of Zhang and Chen could be ranked second and third at this year's world rankings so far.
Zhang, 15, said: "I knew I could win the title because my victories in the 200m and 400m have boosted my confidence."
Veteran Jiang Chengji had a happy-ending for his triumphant career as he won the men's 50m freestyle title in 22.56, 0.23 seconds shy of his own national mark.
Jiang became the first Chinese male swimmer to be able to swim in any Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996, where he finished fourth in the 100m butterfly. "I've always held a strong belief that I will not be ignored in my farewell competition," he said after the farewell swim.
Cheered up by local fans, Zhou Jiawei snatched the gold in men' s 100m butterfly in 53.89 while Chen Xiujun, also from Guangdong, cracked a pack of favorites to win crown the men's 200m backstroke in 2:11.06.
The host swimming team now top the gold tally with eight while their arch rivals Shanghai and Chinese Army shared the second place with five for each, followed by Zhejiang on three.
With four more gold medals on offer, the national games swimming competition will conclude Monday afternoon.
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