BEIJING, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Swimmers from China's national team have made their new year wishes for 2020 - and their common goal is success at the Tokyo Olympics.
"I'm looking forward to next year, because it is very special, with the Tokyo Olympics," said Sun Yang, world champion and captain of China's swimming team. "From Rio to Tokyo, how time flies. After the Rio Olympics, many people thought that I would retire, but I didn't. I'm still going today after four years of ups and downs. My goal, of course, is to stand on top of the podium."
His teammate Xu Jiayu, winner of the men's 100m backstroke at the 2019 Gwangju World Championships, looked back on a successful year. "I got good results in 2019. As defending champion at the World Championships, I set a new championship record in a time of 52.17 seconds and showed my strength in international competition."
"I am more mature and more experienced facing the Tokyo Olympics than I was at the previous two Olympic Games. This time, I have the hope and the strength to compete for gold. Where there is a will, there is a way," added Xu.
Ye Shiwen, who became a Grand Slam winner at the age of 16, participated in the World Championships for the fifth time and regained her confidence in Gwangju. She won silver medals in both 200m and 400m individual medley, and took fourth place in the 200m breaststroke, which was her "new battlefield".
"My 2019 was perfect and everything was beyond my expectations. If I could mark myself, it would be more than full marks, 100+! My biggest gain from the Gwangju World Championships was to truly enjoy the event. My new year wish is, of course, to get good results at the Olympics and still enjoy competing," said Ye.
