CHINA DAILY WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 2012 olympics 3 Phelps has to settle for silver in shocker US swimmer misses out an favorite race but still has two individual events left By JULIAN LINDEN in London the most physically demanding Reuters events in swimming but is also Phelps’ favorite and ironically, South Africa’s Chad le Clos he is known as the best fi nisher upset Michael Phelps to win in the business, famously win- the 200 meters butterfl y fi nal ning the 100 butterfl y fi nal in at the London Olympics on 2004 and 2008 when he was Tuesday. behind. PIERCING EXULTATION Phelps, who was bidding to He swam the 200 at the Syd- PHOTO BY ALBERTO PIZZOLI / AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE became the first male swim- ney Olympics when he was just mer to win the same indi- a 15-year-old and set his first China’s Lei Sheng celebrates his victory over Egypt’s Alaaeldin Abouelkassem at the end of their men’s foil gold medal vidual event at world record and won his fi rst bout in the London Olympics on Tuesday at the ExCeL Centre. three Olympics, world title in the exhausting led all the way four-lap race. but messed up his Only two swimmers have touch allowing Le ever won the same individual Clos to get his hands on the event at three Olympics, Aus- wall fi rst in a time of one min- tralia’s Dawn Fraser, in 100 Li’s star quickly fading with Olympic fl ops ute 52.96 seconds. freestyle in 1956, 1960 and Phelps took the silver medal 1964, and Hungary’s Krisztina 2011 French Open champ admits just call it the China Open,” do not ask such questions just be her last foray into doubles. in 1:53.61 while Japan’s Takeshi Egerszegi in 200 backstroke in Li said. “Every athlete in every because I lost a match on grass. “It’s my fi rst doubles event in Matsuda was third in 1:53.21. 1988, 1992 and 1996. she was not at her best in London sport is fi ghting for their coun- “I was just losing a match. the Olympics. I tried my best The lone consolation for It is a feat that has eluded gen- try,” said the No 10 seed, who It’s a matter of losing to another and it’s a happy experience. But Phelps in suffering the shock erations of the best male swim- fi nished fourth at the Beijing person, is not it?” I will not try anymore.” defeat was that his second plac- mers until Phelps, who had the By CHEN XIANGFENG lost at the All-England Club in Games four years ago. Th e relationship soured more Meanwhile, Li also ing lift ed his career tally to 18 chance of doing it in four diff er- in London Wimbledon. “Th ere is no easy match at the when she refused to answer announced she has found a medals, 14 gold, two silvers and ent events in London. chenxiangfeng@chinadaily Her aura continues to Olympics. I know we are profes- questions from media back new coach － former world two bronze, joining Soviet gym- He failed at his fi rst attempt diminish after her Olympic sional players, but the Olympics home aft er her Wimbledon fl op. No 1 Justine Henin’s mentor, nast Larisa Latynina as the most when he came fourth in the 400 China has a few notable journey ended in disastrous is diff erent. I tried hard here but Furthermore, her relation- Carlos Rodriguez. decorated Olympian, though individual medley but still has international stars who are able style. it did not work out.” ship with the Chinese Tennis “Rodriguez will join my not for long. the 200 individual medley and to draw global limelight at the Li, who lost her fi rst-round Li expressed her strong Association is also tense as she team before this year’s US The 200 butterfly is one of 100 butterfl y to come. London Olympic Games. singles match Daniela Han- desire to deliver something for reportedly didn’t want to play Open (later this month),” she Yi Jianlian, who plies his trade tuchova of Slovakia on Satur- her country in what might be in the doubles in London in said. in the NBA, is battling it out with day, also fell early in the dou- her last Olympic Games, but order to concentrate solely on Her current coach is her the national basketball team; bles competition compatriot Wimbledon turned out to be a the singles. husband Jiang Shan. Sun Yang and Ye Zhang Shuai on Tuesday as sad place for her—again. “I did not try to boycott the Li said the move was not Shiwen have risen they crashed 6-3, 6-1 to Andrea Li lost to Sorana Cirstea in doubles competition,” Li said made because her husband was to superstar status Hlavackova and Lucie Hradec- the second round of Wimble- recently. “Th e problem is they not qualifi ed fi or the job. in the swimming ka of the Czech Republic in the don in June. (CTA) did not notify me before “It’s not his problem. We just pool and 110m last 16. Adding to her misery may making the announcement have too many relationships. hurdler Liu Xiang is gearing up Li said she was aware of the be a souring relationship with (to make me play with Zhang Coach and player, husband and for next week’s track and field importance of the Olympics Chinese media and local tennis in London). It made me feel wife, employee and employer. competition. and admitted she was not at her authorities. uncomfortable.” Sometimes, it’s too diffi cult to But as their stars continue to best in London. When asked if she felt Li and the CTA have not fi nd the balance between us,” rise, 2011 French Open cham- “I don’t think Olympic is uncomfortable on the grass made any public comments on said Li. pion Li Na’s appears to be sink- only important for Chinese compared to hard and clay the issue since. “I think the change will be ing as she appeared to be totally people, otherwise we would surfaces, she retorted, “Please However, Li said this would good for both of us.” MATT SLOCUM / ASSOCIATED PRESS United States’ Michael Phelps (front) and South Africa’s Chad le Clos race to the fi nish in the men’s 200m butterfl y swimming fi nal at the Aquatics Centre on Tuesday. Le Clos won gold, Phelps silver. RAISING US dominant in THE BAR FOR CHINA’S women’s gymnastics LIFTERS By TOM WILLIAMS in London mate Alexandra Raisman but PHOTO BY HASSAN AMMAR Agence France-Presse played a key role in Tuesday’s / AP triumph. Th e United States triumphed Great Britain was unable Lin Qingfeng of in the women’s team gymnastics to repeat the success that the China competes dur- fi nal on Tuesday to claim its fi rst bronze medalwinning men’s ing the men’s 69-kg gold medal in the event since team enjoyed on Monday and the victory of the “Magnifi- fi nished in sixth place behind weightlift ing compe- cent Seven” at the 1996 Atlanta Canada, with Italy seventh and tition on Tuesday in Olympics. Japan last. Russia, runners-up to the Th e US team had set the tone London. Lin won the US at last year’s in both podium training and gold medal. World Champi- qualifying with assured perfor- onships, finished mances on the vault and once second, with Euro- again they asserted their author- pean champions ity with three superb Amanar Romania pipping 2008 Olympic vaults in the fi rst rotation. Drugs: Chinese doctor casts doubt on American performances champion China to the bronze Two days on from her indi- medal. vidual qualifying heartache, FROM PAGE 1 the AP by phone from Austra- “What happened was the the swimmers were reinstated, tee, said it would “very unfair The US had dominated Wieber led the way with a lia. “Th ey are creating double drug testers came around and he said. to judge an athlete by a sudden in qualifying on Sunday but vault that earned her a score “Some people are just biased,” standards.” said, ‘Where are the Chinese?’ I “They did suspend them breakthrough”. unlike its male counterparts, of 15.933, before Gabrielle the offi cial Xinhua News Agen- He said China is extremely said they are not training now,” and I had to write a letter,” he “What you tend to forget is who fi nished a disappointing Douglas (15.966) and McKayla cy quoted Jiang as saying. “We strict about adhering to its Wood said. “Th ey couldn’t fi nd said. probably the 10 years of work fifth in Monday’s men’s final, Maroney (16.233) followed suit never questioned Michael anti-doping rules. He said a them when they wanted to.” “They reinstated them that’s already gone in to get it reproduced the same high to give the US an ideal start. Phelps when he bagged eight group of about a dozen Chi- “So the Chinese Swimming and sent me a letter and said, to that point,” he said on ITV performance level when it mat- Th e Russians could not com- gold medals in Beijing.” nese swimmers — including Association immediately ‘Thank you very much. We News. tered. pete on the vault, with Maria Australian coach Ken Wood, some now in London — who banned them and said, ‘Right.