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Charisma Seen from All-Around Champion Feng Jing
As a former Olympian gymnast and a currently international judge, Slovenia's Ivan Cuk had seen the charisma from the eyes of the newly-crowned men's all-around world champion Feng Jing.
Chinese 16-year-old Feng, who competed in major international event for the first time, unleashed a solid performance on all-around final on Nov. 1, becoming one of the youngest men's all-around world champion in history.
Coming as a commentator for Slovenia's television, Cuk said:"I was impressed by Feng's performance in the competition and his character showed in the press conference."
"I have seen the same spirit shining in Feng's eyes as what I had seen from Li Ning many years ago," he said.
Li, known as Prince of Gymnastics in China, had swept six gold medals in 1982 World Cup and three titles in Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984.
"Li was smiling all the time when I first met him in 1982. He is a lively man. Now I find the same spirit in Feng."
According to Cuk, Feng has a solid foundation and consistency which are rarely seen in teenagers, especially after the new Code of Points imposed since this year.
"The new Code has no advantage to young gymnasts but Feng did a great job as he beat a group of world champion and Olympic medalist, including Belarus' Ivan Ivankov and Bulgaria's Jordan Jovetchev."
"Feng will be even greater in one or two years," said the gymnastics coach in Slovenia's university.
Feng's Victory not by Chance -- Chinese National Head CoachWatching its third-string gymnast Feng Jing came out as a surprise winner in men's all-around final from TV, Chinese head coach of gymnastics team said it is not by chance.
The 16-year-old Feng, the youngest of the Chinese squad to Ghent, claimed the title in all-around, beating a group of big names, including Belarus' Ivan Ivankov and Bulgaria's Olympic medalist Jordan Jovtchev.
Though Huang Yubin, the head coach of China, did not come over for the World Gymnastics Championships, he told Xinhua that he watched live broadcast every mid-night and knew everything about the competition.
Huang said:"It is an unexpected gold medal but it is not beyond certainty."
Five-time China sent an inexperienced team which ranked fifth in the team final at the worlds while its top gymnasts stayed at home for the quadrennial National Games slated for Nov.12.
"We wanted to select potentials for the 2004 Olympic Games through several international events. Ghent is the first test for our young gymnasts. It has proved that we have made a right decision," he said.
With an average age of 18, the Chinese men's team has earned six final berths as Feng and Liu Jinyu were in the all-around final, Zhang Shangwu and Feng on parallel bars, and Xiao Qin and Feng on pommel horse.
Huang attributed China's gymnastics success to its effective selection system through each age group.
"We have a solid foundation and select potentials from age group around the country, "he said.
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