Chinese judokas who only took one gold medal at the Athens Olympics have been in secret training for nearly six months, making particularly rare appearance even for a glance.
"Stop wasting your time, you will never see them here before the Games since no interview, no photo taking and no sightseeing will be allowed in this training hall," a security staff of the judo team said on Sunday at the gate to the hall stands in the Olympic Sports Center.
In Athens, Chinese veteran Sun Fuming, gold medalist at Atlanta, failed to defend her super heavy weight title, ending China's straight Olympic win from Barcelona in this event.
The Chinese judo team will continue their closed-door preparation in this hall instead of the designated training gymnasium located in Capital Institute of Physical Education. From the gate of the huge hall, you could only see two athletes training their muscles, and easily consider the place as a body-building club since loud rock-and-roll filled in.
Similar to other athlete's training room, a red slogan of "shed your sweat and fight for the nation's glory" with a national flag could be seen through the windows of the hall. The national team's white and blue judogis hanging on the ropes in the hall prove the Chinese hard work.
Xian Dongmei gifted China honor in the Japanese-initiated sport in the women's 52 kilograms category at Athens and left to give birth to her first daughter. She was summoned to compete for the Beijing Games when her daughter was only four-month-old.
"I have seen Xian Dongmei training here," the staff said. "She keeps in such a top form that foreign opponents are still afraid to meet her even after she gave birth to a baby."
"And I also see Tong Wen, the girl from Tianjin. Her palm could even wrap my wrist when we shook hands!"
The 25-year-old Tong who will play in the super-heavy-weight event was another gold medal hope for China.
"I think they are working on some new techniques and secret skills in the final preparation. The coaches will not allow any pre-exposure before judokas using them at the vital time during the Games." the staff who preferred anonymous said and asked the reporters to leave.
(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2008)