Following are China's top 10 athletes in 2004 selected by the Xinhua News Agency on Wednesday:

1. Liu Xiang (men's 110m hurdles):

Liu, 21, became the first Chinese man to win an Olympic track and field gold medal in history. He won the 110m hurdles in a world record-equaling time of 12.91 seconds in Athens.

2. Zhang Yining (table tennis):

Zhang won two gold medals in the women's singles and doubles events at the Athens Olympics Games. She went on to beat former Olympic champion and teammate Wang Nan to win the singles event in the World Cup in late 2004.

3. Yao Ming (basketball):

The Houston Rockets center is one of the most influential Chinese athletes in the world. He played a very important role in the Rockets' progress to the NBA playoffs last season. He also led China to the last eight in the Athens Olympic Games.

4. Du Li (shooting):

Du fought back from behind to win the first gold medal of the Athens Olympic Games in the women's 10m

5. Luo Xuejuan (swimming):

The twice world champion became the first Chinese swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal in eight years by taking the women's 100m breaststroke.

6. Meng Guanliang/Yang Wenjun (canoeing):

The duo made history to win China's first ever canoeing Olympic champion in Athens in the men's 500m doubles event.

7. Feng Kun (volleyball):

Feng captained Chinese women's volleyball team to win the Olympic gold medal after staging an unbelievable comeback from 2-0down to beat Russia 3-2.

8. Guo Jingjing (diving):

Guo, who narrowly missed a gold medal four years ago in Sydney, won two golds in Athens from the singles and synchronized three-meter springboard events.

9. Zhang Ning (badminton):

Zhang claimed the women's singles gold medal in the Athens Olympic Games and ended the year as world number one.

10. Tang Gonghong (weightlifting):

Tang broke the jerk and total world records en route to winning the women's over-75kg category gold medal in the Athens Olympic Games.

Source: Xinhua