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Zhang Yadong, head coach of China's swimming team, is a man under pressure after the team's lackluster showing at the World Championships in Melbourne.

The once-powerful team managed only one silver medal and one bronze in the worst Chinese performance at the Worlds in 15 years.

"I'm really under huge pressure. People expected the team to show improvement and win medals. But our performance wasn't up to scratch," he told Titan Sports.

"If the officials have no trust in me and sack me, I will not have any complaints.

Second-placed Wu Peng (R) of China congratulates Michael Phelps of the U.S. after the men's 200m butterfly swimming final at the World Aquatics Championship in Melbourne March 28, 2007.[Reuters]

"People might think I have the right to make all the decisions as head coach of the national team. But the truth is I cannot solve many problems by myself. Sometimes the feeling is torturous."

Adding to the misery ahead of 2008 was the performance of powerhouses like the United States and Australia.

Fourteen world records were set as swimmers like American Michael Phelps laid down their markers ahead of the Beijing Games.

"Competing countries raised their standard at the world championships, especially America and Australia, crippling China's competitiveness. As a result, China's gold medal hopes at next year's Beijing Olympics look remote," said Zhang.

Even for silver medal winner Wu Peng, competing in men's 200m butterfly, the difference between the best and the rest was daunting.

Despite a personal best Wu still finished 3 seconds behind Phelps, and after the race he spoke of the massive increase in speed in recent years.

China's top women's swimmer Qi Hui blamed her failures at the world championships on new training methods. She failed to qualify for the finals of all three of her events. Reuters

"The improvement is really obvious, but it inspires me to work harder. The gap between Phelps and me is so big and it is hard to catch up with him in a year.

"I'll definitely be swimming in this event (in Beijing), but there is no guarantee of a medal," he said in a group interview on his return.

China's women's 4x100m medley relay team won the bronze medal, but finished a massive 6.23 seconds behind winners Australia.

China was the world record setter in 1994 in the event and also won gold at the Barcelona World Championships four years ago.

"Swimming has become an under-developed sport in China. We are lagging behind compared with four years ago. At that time, we had to rely on Luo Xuejuan to win gold. After her retirement, we failed to find someone to replace her," Zhang was quoted as saying.

Luo's departure ended China's gold prospects in 100m breaststroke, and hopes in women's 4x200m freestyle relay, considered a strong event after a silver medal in Athens 2004, took a dive after a semifinal elimination in Melbourne.

"If she (Luo) was still around we would have at least one gold medal," Zhang said.

"She could always aim for a gold medal but the most we can hope for now is merely to make a semifinal or a final."

"Before the tournament, I thought we could win a medal in 4x200m. Right now, I have to admit we have lost the advantage and we have to reassess the team."

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