China rebounds in pool at Beijing Paralympics

Source: Xinhua | 09-13-2008 21:21

BEIJING, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- China regained its supremacy for the first time in the pool of the Beijing Paralympics here on Saturday when the hosts won five gold medals with five world records.

China, who topped the swimming medal table with 19 golds at the Athens Paralympics, witnessed a shock slump four years later in Beijing. Four golds out of six days only sent them to the ninth place on the swimming tally.

However, the Chinese swimmers made a strong comeback on the 7th day of the tournament, grabbing five out of 14 golds up for grab today to show their dominance in the short race.

The first gold came in the men's 100m backstroke S11. China's Yang Bozun, who refreshed the world record in 1 minute 08.40 seconds in the morning's heat, took the winning time further down to 1:07.74, shattering his world mark again.

Though the gold was what he dreamed about for long, Yang said enjoying the competitions was more important than the result.

"I didn't expect to break the world record for the second time, and also the gold, which I've been expecting for many days, finally came. But I have said that a gold and jade medal was just a part of the Paralympic Games and to enjoy and finish the competition was the most important," said the winner, adding that the aquatic center Water Cube paced him to fulfill dreams.