Chinese swimmer Zhang Lin left out of Olympic squad

Chinese swimmer Zhang Lin will not take part in the upcoming London Olympic Games, vice president of the China Swimming Association Shang Xiutang confirmed on Sunday.

According to Shang, the swimming squad for the London Games was basically decided. A total of 51 swimmers, spearheaded by Olympic champion Liu Zige and world champion Sun Yang, will go to the Olympic Games. World champion Jiao Liuyang, Zhao Jing, and veteran Wu Peng are also on the list. However, Beijing Olympics runner-up Zhang Lin was left out.

"There is only slim hope for Zhang Lin to go to the Olympic Games," Shang said. "We feel sorry for him. He is a very good swimmer and had won glory at the Beijing Olympic Games."

Zhang grabbed a silver medal in the men's 400m free at the Beijing Olympic Games, marking China's first-ever Olympic medal in men's swimming. He won a historic gold in 800m freestyle in 2009 Rome worlds to become the first male Chinese swimmer to break a world record in freestyle in 49 years, and also the first male Asian swimmer to seize gold in a long-distance freestyle event at the Olympic Games or the world championships in 73 years.

He has been in a slump since the 2010 Asian Games where he failed to win a gold medal. He failed to reach the Olympic A standard at the National Championships this April in both the 200m and 400m freestyle. Zhang's only chance to compete in London is the men's relay, however, Shang said it's almost impossible.

"We hope we can win a medal in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay, so we must make sure every swimmer in our team is on good form," Shang said. "It's hard decision to leave Zhang Lin out, and that's way we spend so much time deciding the squad."