Zhang retires at National Games

China’s top single sculler Xiuyun Zhang has made a definitive decision to retire announcing it at the Chinese National Games this week on the back of winning the single sculls.

In Chinese rowing, Zhang, 33, has always stood out not only for her remarkable results but also for her friendly smile. She was part of her country’s quadruple sculls that surprised the world by taking gold at the 1993 World Rowing Championships. She was just 17 years old. This was just the beginning of Zhang’s career that peaked in 1996 at the Atlanta Olympic Games when Zhang competed in both the quad and double.

Remaining in the quad and double Zhang went on to help qualify for the 2000 Olympics at the 1999 World Rowing Championships in both boats. Zhang, along with 19 other athletes from endurance sports, was not allowed to compete in Sydney by Chinese sports authorities at the time. In her case, she has an unusually high haemoglobin level which has later been confirmed as natural many times in follow-up testing.

Zhang then qualified for the 2004 Athens Olympics in the single, but just weeks before the Games, Zhang withdrew due to heart problems. In 2006 Zhang was back and competed at one Rowing World Cup event. Finishing seventh was considered a remarkable recovery and return.

With the Chinese Government hiring a number of foreign coaches in the lead up to the Beijing Olympics, Zhang started to be coached by Italian Beppe de Capua. At the 2007 World Rowing Championships a fifth place finish in the single earned Zhang a spot at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Home country medal expectations were high as Zhang prepared for the Beijing Olympics. After winning her semifinal, Zhang earned a centre lane in the final. She finished fourth.

Zhang started off the 2009 season with a Rowing World Cup bronze medal and then finished fifth at the Poznan World Rowing Championships. The 2009 Chinese National Games in Shandong became Zhang’s swansong.

A first place finish in the single earlier this week earned Zhang her fourth National Games title. Leaving the sport on a high note and as one of China’s most accomplished rowers ever, Zhang said, “I think it’s perfect, very perfect.”

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