Guo Shuang trained at the UCI's World Cyling Centre (Image credit: Régis Garnier)
China's Guo Shuang is hopeful of a strong Olympic campaign at her home Games next month after returning from training in Switzerland. The track cyclist spent time training at the International Cycling Union's (UCI) own velodrome at its headquarters in Switzerland.
"I am still a little bit tired, but in a good spirit. Training in the UCI center gave me more confidence for the Olympics," Shuang told News.cn. "In Switzerland, I followed my coach's new strategies for Olympics, I had tried my best to regain more energy during the past two month. I still need to practise some before the Olympics."
Shuang is China's hope for gold in the women's Olympic sprint race. She collected gold at the 2006 Asia Games as well as taking bronze in both the sprint and keirin at the World Championships in 2006, and two silver medals in sprint and keirin at the World Championships in 2007
The 22 year-old spent time preparing in Switzerland after missing out on the podium at this year's Track World Championships in Manchester, England. Shuang has been training under Daniel Morelon, a former French Olympian, and hopes the hard work will pay off in August.
The Chinese Cycling Association's (CCA) Jiang Guofeng said the organization is trying not to put too much pressure on the youngster. Shuang's biggest challenge at the upcoming Games will come from a super-strong British squad including Victoria Pendeton and Rebecca Romero.
"We do not want to put much pressure on Guo even we have high expectations on women's sprint," said Jiang. "I hope she can forget the unhappiness of the Manchester world championship and concentrate on the preparation for the Olympic."
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