Gymnastics chief warns against complacency
(Xinhua)Updated: 2006-12-22 14:58 BEIJING - China's gymnastics chief Gao Jian said on Friday that Chinese gymnasts should not get high-headed despite a string of victories this year.
"China has returned to the top of the gymnastics world this year," said Gao, director of the Chinese gymnastics administrative center. "As we are preparing for the Beijing Olympics, we should never get complacent."
 China's Li Xiaopeng and Xu Huang (L) and Ukraine's Valeriy (R) celebrate on the podium of the Parallel Bars apparatus finals at the 13th Artistic Gymnastics World Cup Final in Sao Paulo December 17, 2006. [Reuters] |
Chinese gymnasts have just returned from the World Cup Final in Brazil, where they swept four out of 10 titles at stake.
Li Xiaopeng triumphed in the parallel bars to snatch his 14th major title, equaling a Chinese national team record held by legendary Li Ning.
Xiao Qin won the pommel horse while Chen Fei and Li Ya claimed the women's vault and beam respectively.
 China's Cheng Fei competes on the floor during the 39th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Aarhus, Denmark, October 17, 2006. [Reuters] |
Four golds came after China's triumphant campaigns in the world championships in Aarhus, Denmark, and the Asian Games in Doha.
In the world championships, China walked away with eight gold medals, including its first ever women's team gold.
In Doha, China continued its overwhelming dominance in Asia by sweeping 11 gold medals, only one less than the 12 titles in the Busan Asian Games.
China sent a squad of world champions in six apparatus including Cheng Fei (women's vault, floor exercise), Yang Wei (men's all-around, parallel bars), Xiao Qin (pommel horse), Chen Yibing (rings).
China's only stunning loss came at the pommel horse with "Pommel King" Xiao and Yang Wei both falling from the horse.
China swept the men's and women's team titles without much trouble. Yang Wei, triple world champion, was crowned in four events -- men's team, all-around, rings and parallel bars.
Cheng Fei, also the triple gold medallist at the Aarhus worlds, grabbed three golds from women's team, floor and vault.
Chen Yibing was crowned the king of rings. Teenager He Ning and Zou Kai notched up the women's all-around and men's floor gold medals.
Veteran Zhang Nan cruised to easy victory on beam after the team's honor.
China added six silvers to their stack of medals, producing plenty of podium finishers.
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