Olympic champion Xu eyes Rio Olympics

Xu Lijia, 2012 London Olympic champion, said she had decided to sail in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games after defending the women's laser radial title at the 12th National Games in Shenyang on Sunday.

Since the medal round was canceled due to lack of wind, the 26-year-old won the gold with an aggregate net total points of eight.

"It's a regret that the competition ended this way," said Xu, whose next race will be women's laser radial world championships in Rizhao of Shandong province in October.

Xu's medal round was originally scheduled for Saturday, but insufficient wind postponed the race. "We've already been used to this. What we need to do is to get ready and enjoy every second of the race," said Xu.

After London Olympics, Xu's life was packed with social activities but she is self-disciplined as she has kept fitness training. Since she resumed sailing training in April, she participated in World Cup races in Britain and France.

"Step by step, I have been into systematic training," said Xu. "Eighty percent of my overall strength has been restored."

In the National Games, she ranked first in six out of nine rounds. "Compared with London Games, I have paid more attention to scientific training methods and recovery after training. Up to now, I am injury free. This is good for my preparation for Rio Olympics."

She also underwent a one-month fitness training program in AP (Athletes Performance) company in the United States before the National Games. "The training program in AP assures me that I have more potential to develop," she said.

Xu was uncertain about the 2016 Rio Olympics after the race in London but now she has an answer. "There are still three years to go. But I will definitely take part in Rio Olympics," she said.

"She has made racing enjoyable, hardly feeling pressure from it," said Yao Xinpei, sailing director of the Water Events Administrative Center.

Besides racing, Xu wants to continue her study. "I believe in 'live and learn'. I have applied for graduate study in Shanghai Jiao Tong University but I am not sure which major I am going to choose," said Xu. "If I retire, I want to work for some international sports organizations. So my major might be associated with this."

As an Olympic champion, Xu has now a bigger dream. "I hope more people love the sport and get involved in the sport," she said.

Now Xu has realized part of her dream thanks to her "disciple" Zhang Dong Shuang, her Shanghai teammate and runner-up in women's laser radial in the National Games.

"She is a good racer in breeze conditions," Xu talked about Zhang, who is only two years younger than Xu.

"We have a tradition in Shanghai team that when we are recruited into the team, we should choose an older teammate as mentor and Zhang picked me," said Xu.

"It's my pleasure to give her some advice and share my experience. I hope more Chinese sailors like Zhang will come out.

"We also hope more people learn the sport following the example of Xu Lijia so that we can build up a laser radial system throughout China," said Yao.

"Xu will retire someday. Only when we have more and more youngsters involved in sailing can we raise the sport to a higher level."

Yao said women's laser radial is one of the three "hopeful" sailing events in China for next Olympic circle. The others are women's RS:X and women's 470.

In Beijing Olympics, Yin Jian became women's RS:X champion, an Olympic breakthrough for Chinese sailing. Four years later, Xu added one more gold.

In August 2013, Wang Xiaoli and Huang Xufeng grabbed a bronze medal in the world women's 470 championships, the best result in the class for Chinese.

Yao, the sailing director, downplayed the result by saying: "As 2013 is the first year after London Olympics, some top sailors chose to take a rest while our sailors are preparing for the National Games.

"Anyway it proved that the overall strength of Chinese sailing has improved," said Xu.