Chinese Paralympic rowers told to believe in miracle, but not to think about golds

Source: CRI | 09-07-2008 21:12

On a regatta course where the Chinese Olympic rowers have claimed the first ever gold just few weeks ago, their Paralympic peers hope to continue the winning momentum but were warned to adjust the mindset at first.

"I think Britain, Israel and Brazil have the chances of winning golds at the Paralympics. And It's already a miracle that the Chinese rowers to make it to all four events in the Beijing Paralympics. We started to groom the team only two years ago," China head coach Liu Xiaochun told Xinhua on Sunday, "so I often tell them when their is courage, there is miracle."

A total of 96 adaptive rowers have moved into the final assault for the Paralympic Games at north Beijing's Shunyi Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Park, eyeing the four gold medals on offer in the most recently introduced sport to the Paralympic family.

Six countries, including the United States, Israel, Britain, China, Canada and Brazil, have qualified to race in all four events.

"I don't push my rowers too much by giving them a specific goal to reach in these Games. That might be work in a reverse way as the adaptive rowers are a sensitive group," Liu said.

"We have never thought about making all four events, which is really hard for these adaptive rowers starting from scratch. It is all hard work."

Compared with the American or European veteran rowers who have ten to fifteen years of rowing experience, the Chinese athletes, coming from school, factory and even hairdressing salon, seemed to be in a different league and some of them didn't even take any interest in sports.