Guo Shuang, a Chinese cycling talent in the women's sprint, on Saturday vowed to beat other world elites in Beijing to end China's cycling gold drought at Olympic Games.
The 22-year-old rising star, who received high-level trainings abroad for six years, missed the Athens Olympics because she was too young then. But the Asian champion and Asian record holder is ready to stun the world in her Olympic debut on home soil.
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The file photo taken on October 15, 2005 shows Guo Shuang of northeast China's Jilin Province waves after winning the gold medal in the women's individual sprint at the 10th National Games in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province. [LiuChan/Xinhua]
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"I have dreamed that moment for a thousand times. Beijing Olympics, I made it here, and winning a gold would be nice," Guo told Xinhua.
Talented girl
Born in Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, Guo showed her talent in cycling when she was just six years old.
One day, her family took the little girl to visit her grandmother, and she was left alone and played by herself outside the gate. She found there was a bike there and excitedly brought the bike to the street. Several hours later, Guo was able to ride the bike.
"That's a miracle tale for me. It might come from my parents. My father was a football player and my mother is a PE (Physical Education) teacher. They are both good at sports," said Guo with a smile.
Like other children, the 20-minute riding to and from school was the most frequent contact she had with a bike.
Guo's innate talent for cycling fully emerged after October 13, 1999, the date she would never forget when she was enrolled in the Jilin provincial cycling team.
Later on, she was crowned in the national youth group 200-meter and 500-meter time trial in both 2000 and 2001. In April 2001, 15-year old Guo went to the Beijing Asian Cycling Training Center and took part in the National Youth cycling training.
The 22-year-old consolidated her position in the Chinese finest cyclists by beating veteran Jiang Yonghua, the Athens silver medallist, to win the gold in the 2005 Chinese National Games.
She became an Olympic gold hopeful after taking the gold in sprint at the 2006 Doha Asiad, two bronze medals in sprint and keirin at the 2006 World Championships, and two silver medals in sprint and keirin at the 2007 World Championships.