China Race Walker May Compete for America

A Chinese athlete has caused a stir in the race walking world because she may compete for the United States in the Olympics instead of China.

Shang Xiutang, director of the Chinese Athletics Association (CAA), said if Chen Yueling, the former national race walker, did do so, within the rules, there was nothing China could do.

"Our attitude to the issue is explicit - all should adhere to the Olympic rule. And If Chen is qualified, nobody can stop her going to Sydney," Shang said.

In accordance with Olympic rules, an athlete is only eligible to represent his or her adopted country after having the nationality of that country for at least three years.

Eight years ago, Chen won China's first Olympic track and field gold medal in Barcelona.

She retired, despite strong opposition from the Chinese sport authorities, to go to study in the United States the following year.

In 1997, rumours arose that Chen might come back to race, at which point she had no green card.

As to whether Chen can meet the criteria, nobody in China knows.

"If Chen did get American nationality three years ago, we have nothing to say; and if she did not, I don't believe the US sports authorities will violate the Olympic rules because of a single athlete," Yang Shande, senior official with the CAA, added.

However, even if Chen is allowed to compete in Sydney, she is not likely to pose any serious threat to the Chinese, Shang indicated.

"Chen had stopped systematic training for such a long time, and she is not in her best condition," Shang said.

Chen won the women's 10 kilometres walking in the Barcelona's Olympics, but this time she plans to walk 20 kilometres.

"Chen was once strong in 10 kilometres, but not in 20 kilometres. And now we have Liu Hongyu, Wang Yan and Wang Liping, who all clock within 1 hour 27 minutes to 28 minutes in the women's 20 kilometres competition. Therefore there is no need to worry," Zhang Buxin, head coach of the Chinese walking team, said.

The United States is relatively weak at race walking.

None of their leading walkers is fast enough to be among the world's top 10.



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