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| Chinese fencer Tan Xue ended China's 12-year Olympic medal drought
when she collected a silver medal at the Athens Olympic Games Tuesday
evening. |
Chinese fencer Tan Xue ended
China's 12-year Olympic medal drought when she collected a silver
medal at the Athens Olympic Games Tuesday evening.
World champion Tan Xue came second to Mariel
Zagunis of the United States in the women's sabre
.
Tan Xue displayed her overwhelming power on her way to the final, in
which she met a fierce challenge from Zagunis, who won the gold medal bout
15-9.
Starting her sports career as a hurdle sprinter when she was a kid, Tan
was selected into the track and field team of Tianjing Sports Education
School in 1998 and switched to fencing the same year.
Inspired by a film about Zorro, a legendary Spanish
hero who used a sword to fight against evil governors, Tan quickly became
one of the most promising
stars in China and won the national championship the following
year.
The left-handed Tan became the first Chinese to win a gold medal at the
world championships in 2002, offering China the best shot of the gold
medal of individual events in Athens.
"I didn't find a good strategy to deal with Zagunis' attack. I feel sorry that I didn't win
the gold medal, but it's a good experience and could be a
boost of my career," Tan said.
(Agencies) | 
Updated: 2004-08-18 15:41