Chinese Olympic Champion Seeks Training in the US
Xing Huina, China's 10,000m Olympic champion plans to undergo training under famous China-born coach James Li, who happens to be the USA Track and Field Coach of the Year. This is in order for her to get back into top-performance shape in time for the Beijing Olympic Games in August, 2008.
Xing had managed to take the world by surprise by winning the Athens Olympic 10,000m gold in 2004. However, not long after, she was found in wanting of a coach, when her former coach Wang Dexian was banned from coaching for life in 2005. Wang was suspended due to the discovery that another long-distance star runner student of his (Sun Yingjie) was tested positive for drugs. Apart from this Wang's famous training camp was also dissolved.
Xing had been training alone after Wang's suspension. Without systematic training and the presence of other people's influence, it was quite difficult to keep up a high-level performance, a sad fact that cost Xing her spot in the Osaka World Championships.
Despite having less time to train, Xing still hope to get her best form under James Li's tutelage when she flies to the US for training.
The head coach of the China Track and Field team, Feng Shuyong, has also expressed his belief in the training opportunities that the US can provide for Xing's rehabilitation. He mentioned that Xing is now physically fit, with her form improving greatly by the day. He also acknowledges James Li's abilities as a coach, and how training with similarly-leveled teammates will benefit Xing in the long run.
