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As all Chinese are still fresh with China's marvelous performance at the Athens Olympics, Shenzhen's Olympic athletes were back home Saturday, bringing citizens both their victory excitement and Olympic spirit.

Li Yizhen, deputy secretary of Shenzhen CPC Committee, along with the city's sports officials met with bronze medalist Gao Feng, woman footballer Teng Wei, rhythmic gymnasts Lu Yingna, Hu Mei and the national rhythmic team coach He Xiaomin. The rest of athletes were in Shanghai to take part in the National Universiade.

This time eight Shenzhen athletes qualified for the Athens Olympics, five more than the previous Games.

"As a young city, Shenzhen had a breakthrough in the number of Olympic qualifiers. Gao Feng took the bronze in the 48 kg category judo on the first day of the Games, getting Guangdong athletes off to a good start,"said Cai Mingyuan, director-general of Shenzhen Municipal Sports Bureau.

Gao Feng, 22, is widely recognized as a strong title contender in the future international light weight judo field. She showed her determination to turn the bronze to gold at the 2008 Beijing Games.

"This is my first time to take part in Olympics, and I am still lacking in international competition experience. As I will accumulate extensive experience I believe my strength is in competing for the gold four years later in Beijing. "

Under the direction of He Xiaomin, two Shenzhen girls turned in superb performances with their inspired choreography, winning sixth place. As the only Shenzhen native coach to go to Athens, He Xiaomin has witnessed their progress from Shenzhen to the national team.

"They have already tried their best. In less than two years, we completed the work from forming the six-people cast, rhythmic creation and gaining the admission ticket to the Athens Olympics. Most of them never practiced group events before. Tacit understanding and artistic expression are our major weakness."

As the former Shenzhen team coach, He Xiaomin considered Shenzhen's rhythmic gymnasts favorite hopefuls, as more young parents in the city send their children to learn ballet, laying the foundation for the event.

The world sport felt the dragon's breath in Athens, Shenzhen citizens also feel the Olympic spirit at home. "Faster, higher and stronger are the best reflection of our Shenzhen athletes. Their confidence and perseverance to excel will ignite a new wave of mass fitness and inspire people from all walks of life to make Shenzhen a more dynamic city," said Li Yizhen.

Editor: Catherine