From six youth Olympic titles in Singapore to an Olympic bronze in London, China's teenager swimmer Tang Yi said her training is paid off.
Tang Yi of China poses at awarding ceremony of women's 100m freestyle of swimming competition, at London 2012 Olympic Games in London, Britain, August 2, 2012. Tang Yi won the bronze medal with 53.44. [Xinhua]
"I had gone through too much hardships over the years, and the Olympic medal will encourage me to zero in for further flourish," said the 19-year-old.
Tang made herself stepping on the Olympic podium on Thursday after finishing third in women's 100m freestyle final, most gruelling event for world's fastest female racers in Olympic pool.
It was not a piece of cake for Tang, who was not among medal hopes in the 100m freestyle final.
China has failed to appear on the Olympic podium in the event since Zhuang Yong, China's first Olympic swimming champion, claimed gold at 1992 Barcelona Olympics and Le Jingyi retained the title four years later in Atlanta.
Sixteen years later in London, Tang succeeded in pushing China back to top three in the event, which has long been dominated by swimmers from western countries.
In the enticing battle on Thursday evening, Tang, the fourth fastest qualifier, was the second fastest off the starting block but was the sixth to turn.
Ahead of her were Danish world champion Jeanette Ottesen Gray, U.S. world champion Jessica Hardy, British world silver medalist Francesca Halsall and other strong competitors.
To most of the audience, she was far away from a medal after first half of the race.
But Tang produced a fast last 50m sprint, closing the gap and flew over all of the above-mentioned superstars to touch the wall third in 53.44 seconds, only a slight 0.06 second away from silver medalist Belarusian swimmer Aliaksandra Herasimenia, winner of the event at Shanghai World Championships.
The gold medal went to Dutch swimmer Ranomi Kromowidjojo, bronze medalist of the event at Shanghai Wolrds.
Tang was overjoyed with her personal best time, which offered her the first Olympic medal and witnessed another breakthrough for Chinese swimming.
"I just wanted to give the best performance and never expected the medal," said an excited Tang.
"It is not only a big inspiration for me and my teammates, and also the greatest rewards for my hard training over the recent years," she said.
Tang, a Shanghai native, made her international debut at the 2006 Brazil shortcourse World Championships. Her Olympic debut in Beijing ended with the fourth place in women's 4X100 freestyle relay.
Before coming to London, her second Olympic tour, her best achievements were six gold medals at the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore.
At the 2011 Shanghai World Championships, she got a silver in women's 4X100 medley relay and a bronze in 4X200 freestyle relay.
Tang said the Olympic bronze medal far outweighs her remarkable achievements in Singapore Youth Games.
"Every Olympic athlete has gone through hardships to make their way to the Games," she said.
"I enjoyed my hard training and fully devoted myself in it. Today, it is paid off," Tang said
