Germany's women epeeist Britta Heidemann, ranked No. 1 in the world, said Wednesday her goal for the Beijing Games is to win a medal.
"There are about 10 girls that can win a medal and I am one of them. The goal would be to go back to Germany with a medal around my neck," Heidemann said after training in the Fencing Hall.
Talking about the host team China, the German fencer said her Chinese rivals have got better and better in the last two years and have advanced to world-class fencers.
Heidemann also mentioned that she has personal friendship with China's Li Na, whom she overtook in April at the World Cup in Nanjing, China to become world number one.
"We have a friendship, but on the piste she is my competitor," she said.
"We first met about 10 years ago when I went to school here. I have been to China about 15 times and every time I am in Beijing I try to meet one of the Chinese fencers," she added.
The Beijing Games will see 10 gold medals for fencing, as women's epee team and men's foil team events will not be included this time.
"Everyone was shocked. The German team was very strong. We have won, I think, nine medals in a row at the world championships. But I will just have to concentrate on the individual event," Heidemann said.
(Xinhua News Agency August 6, 2008)