A YOUNG Shenzhen woman has entered the final round of a national competition designed to seek four coxswains for the rowing event at next year's Beijing Olympics, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported yesterday (Apr 17).

Zhang Weiyan, 30, was a salesperson for a local jewelry distributor before she quit her job to try and become a coxswain of the Chinese national team, the newspaper said.

Zhang applied to enter the competition last September after China Central Television (CCTV) announced that it was looking for two male and two female coxswains for the Olympics. "I am very athletic and have been active in sports since childhood," said Zhang, who is confident that she has the physical condition and composure to overcome the pressures of high-level international competition.

Rowing has taken up much of her time of late, and Zhang decided to give up her job last October to fully concentrate on the sport. "I lived on my savings after I quit my job. My parents and friends didn't understand why I was doing so, as you know, it's a national event, you can never be sure of a success," she said, adding that she never regretted making the effort to pursue her dream of participating in the Beijing Olympics, the newspaper said.

Zhang will train for a month in Qiandaohu in Zhejiang Province together with 19 other contestants later this month. The final four will be selected based on their performance during training. Their names will be announced in September, the newspaper said.

The national selection of Olympic coxswains was initiated by CCTV and the Olympics organizers. The final four will participate in the Beijing Olympics Games next year, but only two - one man and one woman - will actually steer the Chinese boats at the Games.

Editor: Wing