Breaststroke sensation Luo Xuejuan brought home the sole gold medal from a highly-competitive Olympic pool in Athens- but her effort was not enough to spare the brushes for the rest of China's struggling swimmers in 2004.

In a sport now full of teen prodigies and fast-improving world records, the once-glorious Chinese swimmers are almost invisible, giving officials a huge headache as they aim for a shining performance less than four years from now at 2008 Beijing Games.

A special thanks should be given to the gallant Luo who kept the lamp burning for China hanging on the world swimming map - a place where many once unknown nations witnessed great success in Athens and elsewhere in recent years.

Since the 2001 Fukuoka World Championships where the then teen swimmer established her fame by winning two gold medals, China's Olympic fortune in Athens and even the future of China's swimming were burdened on Luo.

The talent from the city of Hangzhou in East China's Zhejiang Province stood out bravely to confront China's all-time low four years ago at Sydney Games, where the nation returned empty-handed. This was the first time Chinese swimmers failed to win a medal in Olympics since 1988 Seoul Games.

Luo, noted for her aggressive and outspoken temperament, handled the pressure in the best way possible.

She kept winning for her nation. She landed titles in 2002 Busan Asian Games and presented a more heroic deed in 2003 Barcelona World Championships by claiming three gold medals, including anchoring China to a win in the 400m medley relay ahead of the US and Australia. With that, she set herself firmly as a strong gold hopeful before travelling to Athens Games, the nation's top sporting mission.

What added more glitter on her heroine image is Luo completed a come-from-behind victory in Athens by beating challenging rivals who broke the world record right before the Games.

(Jones, Xinhua photo)

Unlike other swimmers, including Leisel Jones of Australia and American Amanda Beard who went to Athens with new 100m and 200m breaststroke world records respectively, Luo went to Athens with a low profile and little reward from warm-up competitions.

It was even worse that Luo started really sluggish and qualified for the final as the second slowest swimmer.

Just when most of the expectation of Chinese fans vanished, Luo peaked in a timely explosion of determination clocking her personal best and outperforming all of her rivals to win China's only swimming gold medal. With the same explosiveness, she conquered Jones to win 100m title in the Barcelona tournament right after the Aussie broke the world record in semi-finals.

"This is the most memorable moment of my life," Luo said through tears right after her Athens win.

And it was also the most memorable moment for China which was not able to follow the fast pace of world swimming after the country's heyday in early 1990s.

Catch-up

For the past eight years, Chinese swimmers have been searching for an Olympic gold.

(Le yingyi claims gold in Atlanta Games, Sina photo)

The last one was won by Le Jingyi in the 1996 Atlanta Games in women's 100m freestyle. But four years later in Sydney, the best the Chinese swimmers could muster was a fourth place by another women's breaststroke specialist Qi Hui in the 200m.

The distance between the world winners and China is so obvious that the Chinese names were quickly erased from the world record books over the past several years. Wu Yanyan holds the only Chinese world record for women's 200m individual medley. But the all-conquering performances from Ukraine's Yana Klochkova who increased her Olympic gold tally to four after Athens Games makes Wu's mark irrelevant.

Back in Athens, only Luo could maintain her form while her other medal-hopeful teammates easily bowed to pressure.

(Yang Yu, Yahoo photo)

Yang Yu, a consistent world top freestyle sprinter who teamed with Luo to win a medley gold from Barcelona tournament, dropped unexpectedly in Athens, failing to qualify for the final of women's 200m freestyle on which she won two silver medals from World Short Course Championships.

The swimmer, also from Hangzhou, and already the world short course record on 200m freestyle, gave a glimmer of hope before the Olympics by setting her second short course record on 200m butterfly during the 2004 World Cup Berlin stop. But her Athens sojourn was nothing but a disaster as she swam far from her best.

Her poor form also had an influence on China's 4x200m freestyle medley team which was widely seen as the gold favourite. An inspiring American squad made a stunning show, pushing the Chinese into second place and breaking the oldest world record set by former East German swimmers in 1980s.

"If we could swim at our best, I think we could have won gold although the Americans did an excellent job," said Yang after the race.

However, there is no time for regret as the Chinese already start another and probably the most important Olympic campaign ever.

"The Athens Games belong to the past and I believe China's swimming has a big room for improvement," said Shi Tianshu, head of national swimming administrative centre.

His optimism is based on the emergence of a group of talented young swimmers who are looking hopeful for the 2008 Games.

(Gao Chang, Sina photo)

Gao Chang, a 17-year-old from Shandong Province, lifted herself from an unknown in Athens to a double silver-medal winner at the World Short Course Championships in October on 50m and 100m backstroke. Her rising talent promises much for the Chinese squad because the backstroke has always been the weakest link and effectively puts the Chinese out of world top medley groups.

Another teen promise, Pang Jiaying, made herself another freestyle hopeful when she took Yang's place to battle for to fifth in 200m in Athens.

Other prodigies like Zhang Tianyi, 15, Xutian Longzi, Yu Rao and Bi Mengjiao, all 14, are already winning medals in the World Cup series although they look too young to compete in senior competitions.

"It is hard to predict how much we can win in 2008 Beijing Games. But I think we can win more than Athens, and more of our top swimmers will emerge during Beijing Games," said an optimistic Shi.

With so much at stake and strong ambition in abundance, there will be much to expect from Chinese swimmers in Beijing. Luo has firmly set her sight on the gold medal.

(Wu Peng, Sina photo)

On the men's side, the 18-year-old Wu Peng, the bronze medal winner in men's 200m butterfly at October's championships, is expected to become the first Chinese male swimmer to win an Olympic medal.

Editor: Guang