Olympic double winner Ye Shiwen showed her interest in the mixed-gender relay events and expressed her willingness here on Thursday to compete in the events at the FINA Swimming World Cup Beijing stop from Nov. 2-3.
The 16-year-old Ye, who claimed two gold medals in the women's 200m and 400m individual medley at London Olympic Games, said she just came back from Kunming high land training session.
"I had some days off after the Olympic Games. I just retuned to water for less than one month. I guess I am only 80 percent of my peak form," Ye said during the pre-meet press conference at the National Aquatic Center-Water Cube.
"So far I am not sure what events I finally compete here, because my coach went to Moscow for the 1st FINA Gold Medal Swimming Coaches Clinic. He did not tell me about this. I guess I will compete in my favorite medley events."
According to FINA rules, for the 2012 edition of the World Cup Series, 4 x 50 meters medley mixed and 4 x 50m freestyle mixed are included in the competition. The mixed relays must consist of 2 male and 2 female swimmers in any order they like.
"I am interested in the mixed medley. I hope I have a chance to join my teammates to swim the medley. It is a fresh event I have never swam," Ye said.
China has sent a 60-strong team to compete at Water Cube with Olympic women's 200m butterfly champion Jiao Liuyang and other veterans.
Hungary veteran Katinka Hosszu, who topped the World Cup ranking so far after first five stops, will try to enlarge her lead here in Beijing.
"I am not here competing for money or for the rankings. I just want to gain more experience," Hosszu said.
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