Laser Radial win could raise China's profile in Western-dominated sport

A Chinese sailor overwhelmed her European rivals to win the Laser Radial class in Olympic sailing at Weymouth and Portland on Monday.

The gold is Xu's second Olympic medal after her bronze at the Beijing Games. It's also China's second sailing gold ever, after Yin Jian claimed it in windsurfing four years ago.

Xu, 24, started swimming at age 4. The short girl didn't stand out in the pool but was introduced to sailing at the age of 10.

Xu's father, Xu Junfa, said: "Sailing is a sport where things always change. Sailors have to use their heads to track the weather and currents. It's also physically demanding. She likes those kinds of sports."

Xu won the Optimist class team title at the Asian Sailing Championships in 1999 and claimed two consecutive Optimist world titles in 2001 and 2002. She added another Asiad title at the Busan Asian Games in 2002.

Xu started to train for the Europe class in 2002, but a tumor-removal surgery dashed her hopes of competing in the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Xu gave up the Olympics after her doctor told her the tumor in her left knee would become malignant in three months if she refused to undergo an operation.

She switched to the Laser Radial in 2005, as it replaced the Europe class in the 2008 Olympics. She won China's first sailing world title in an Olympic event at the 2006 Worlds, followed by a bronze - China's first Laser Radial Olympic medal - at home in 2008.

After sustaining a waist injury, Xu took a long break from sailing and studied business administration at Shanghai Jiao Tong University after a win at China's National Games in 2009.

"Reading helped me fill up my mind and allowed my body to recover, which endowed me with a better physical condition to handle the intensive training in the later Olympic preparations," said Xu, who resumed training last May.

"I experienced some difficult days when I first returned to the sea because my body couldn't adapt to the huge training load. But I was supported by a strong belief. I know I can't cut my connection with sailing. And I gradually found myself back in competitions."

Xu's father said his daughter also has congenital amblyopia and a hearing impairment.

"One of her eyes can't see clearly, and one of her ears can't hear accurately," he said.

"She has to get very close to the coach when talking. We tried many ways (to treat the condition) but couldn't find a cure. She has to put in more effort than others."

Xu's hard work paid off in London. She said she believed it was more important for more Chinese to know about sailing than for her to become famous.

"Sailing is still a less-popular event in China," she said.

"I don't want to be a celebrity. I just hope my victory will let more people understand and get into sailing, and enjoy the feeling of voyaging on the boundless sea.

"I don't think the gold medal is too late, and I've really enjoyed the whole process of the past six years (from winning the Worlds in 2006 to the London Games) beyond the results. I don't know whether I'll compete in the Rio Games, but I will enjoy every day sailing because sailing will be my career for life."

Xiao Tian, vice-minister of the General Administration of Sport of China, said Xu's success will inspire the sport's development in the country.

"Sailing has always been a dominant event of Western countries, where a vast number of people participate in the sport," Xiao said.

"There are more than 10,000 sailors registered at sailing clubs in England, but our country has only 200. So, Xu's championship is very valuable and exciting."

tangzhe@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 08/08/2012 page10)