Zhuang Yong, one of the best women swimmers inChina, was born inShanghaionAugust 10, 1972. She began to receive regular swimming training at the age of seven and entered theShanghaimunicipal team 5 years later.
In 1985, she claimed women's 200m freestyle title in the 1stNational Junior Games, a performance that earned her a place in the national team. In 1987, Zhuang swept four titles in the 6thNational Games.
In 1988, Zhuang was silver medallist of women's 100m freestyle, the first medal for the Chinese delegation in that event. In 1989, she won the women's 100m freestyle in the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.
In 1990, she swept the gold medals of women's 100m, 200m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay and 4x100m medley relay in the Asian Games held inBeijing. One year later, she grasped women's 50m freestyle gold and women's 100m freestyle silver in the World Swimming Championships.
Despite her excellent performance in these events, nobody had ever expected Zhuang to win a gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, because her best timing in the women's 100m freestyle prior to the Games was 0.5 seconds behind the American ace swimmer Thompson.
That gap was by no means insignificant in the women's 100m freestyle. However, Zhuang Yong has iron will power and is never reconciled to a second place. She likes to challenge the best. In theBarcelonaswimming pool, Zhuang pressed forward neck and neck with Miss Thompson amid a thunderous uproar from the American cheerleaders on the spectators stand.
The contest was so close and so keen that spectators on the stand could hardly see for sure which one of the two reached the terminal first. When the two swimmers turned back after they had touched the wall, the electronic scoreboard flashed: "1st, Yong Zhuang; 2nd, Thompson...." The Chinese spectators on the stand jumped to their feet and cheered. They were not small in number, but loud in voice.
That wasChina's first gold medal in an Olympic swimming event. To realize this dream, Miss Zhuang had struggled for 13 years. AtBarcelona, she also won two silver medals, in the women's 50m freestyle and 4x100 freestyle relay.
In 1993, she was gold medallist in women's 4x100m freestyle relay in the 7thNational Games. After this event, she retired from swimming.
After retirement, Zhuang acted in several films and went to preside over the music programs in 1995. Two years later, she set up Tulip Advertising Company inShanghai.
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