Injury Puts Luo's World Record Breaking out of Reach at Universiade

Home>>Sports

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, August 25, 2003

Injury Puts Luo's World Record Breaking out of Reach at Universiade

It would have been possible for Luo Xuejuan to break the world record at the World University Games if she had not sustained an injury, a Chinese swimming team coach said Monday.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

It would have been possible for Luo Xuejuan to break the world record at the World University Games if she had not sustained an injury, a Chinese swimming team coach said Monday.

Triple world champion Luo eased to the women's 50m breaststroke title in 31.39 seconds in Sunday's final after she created a new Universiade record in 31.15 in the morning heats.

"Her performance in the heats were so encouraging that I thought it was possible for her to break the world record," said Luo's coach Zhang Yadong.

Luo crowned with 50m and 100m breaststroke as well as 4x100m medley relay titles at the Barcelona world championships last month when she missed the world record of 30.57 by 0.1 second in the 50m event.

"It is true that she is not in her best form after the world championships but I believe she has the potential to set a new record.

"But her injury in the waist placed an obstacle on her way to abetter performance," said Zhang.

Luo is suffering from a minor waist injury which hampered her in the heats and got worse before the final. "She received a simple treatment right before the final but it was not that effective," added Zhang.

Luo clocked a split time of 7.4 seconds in the first 15 meters while she usually swims that distance in 7.0 or 7.1.

"I had not expected the injury could affect her so badly. It was really a pity she missed another opportunity (to break the record)," said Zhang.

Luo also entered the 100m and 200m breaststroke events, in which Zhang said they expected at least a gold. "She can do that," he added.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Swimming Roundup: Four Universiade Records Bettered as China Pull off Two Golds

US Conducts Land-based Missile Test ( 2 Messages)

Chinese Personages Appeal to Japan to Face up to History ( 2 Messages)

Disgraced Official Highlights Chinks in System ( 3 Messages)

Beijing's Economy Forecast to Grow 9-10 Percent in 2003 ( 2 Messages)

China Puts New Anti-AIDS Drug in Clinical Use ( 2 Messages)