In the seven previous Summer Olympic Games China has participated in, Chinese athletes have cumulatively won 163 gold medals in 18 major sporting events. In the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, 51 gold medals came from 15 major events. In the 2012London Olympic Games, Chinese players will take part in 23 major events (26 in total) and 212 minor events. China is not only striving for new gains in its formerly strong areas, but also expecting to extend its supremacy to men's swimming, women's boxing, beach volleyball, water polo, synchronized swimming and cycling.
Men's swimming: in position to win gold
From 1992 to 2008, China's women swimmers won seven Olympic swimming gold medals. Changes are expected in London. Male swimmerSun Yanghas an overwhelming advantage in the men's 1,500-meter freestyle and the 400-meter freestyle.
In 2011, Sun broke the men's 1,500-meters freestyle three times, all at sub 14:43. In each case Sun had a nearly two second-lead against the second-place swimmer.
In the 400-meter freestyle, the three best performances of 2011 were made by Sun Yang and Korean swimmer Park Tae-hwan. Sun boasted the first and third best times that year while Park clocked the second best.
With these advantages, Chinese men's swimming team is poised to win its first Olympic gold medal in London.
