Sail-World.com : China’s Lijia Xu – firming as London 2012 Laser Radial favourite
China’s Lijia Xu – firming as London 2012 Laser Radial favourite
|
|
|
'Lijia Xu winning Olympic Test event Laser Radial medal race'
© Clive Mason/Getty Images Europe)
|
The top performing Women’s Laser Radial sailor on the 2011- 2012 World Cup circuit has been China's 24 year old Lijia Xu, who just won her third Gold medal of this season at the Semaine Olympique Francaise. This now positions her atop the ISAF Laser Radial Standings.
While Marit Bouwmeester (NED) and Evi Van Acker (BEL) have until now been considered favourites to take Olympic Gold, Xu, the bronze medallist at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, has lots of talent and she has been in great form in this vital Olympic year.
Lijia Xu, (her nickname in English is Lily) started to sail Optimists at age 10 in 1997. She won the National Girls title a year later. She won two Optimist World championships, moved up to the Europe dinghy and went on to become the 2006 Laser Radial World champion after just eight months in the class.
Xu was runner up in the Laser Radial Worlds of 2008 and made history winning Olympic bronze behind Anne Tunnicliffe (USA) and Lithuanian Gintare Volungeviciute in Qingdao, China. She was the first Chinese sailor ever to win an Olympic medal.
Xu won the Laser Radial Class medal race at the 2011 Olympic Test event in Weymouth, England after finishing fourth overall behind Marit Boumeester, Evi van Acker and Paige Railey (USA).
She then lifted a gear, winning the 2011 Open Europe titles and then Sail Melbourne, the first World Cup regatta of the season. Since then Xu won the Miami OCR and now again in Hyeres.
With Weymouth based British coach Jon Emmett showing her the way she will be amongst the favourites for London 2012.
This week Sail-World.com took the opportunity, during a training break, to ask Lily about her journey since Beijing 2008.
‘After Beijing 2008 I went back to the university, majoring in Business Management at Shanghai Jiaotong University. I had some time off from intense training to overcome injury.
‘Actually I wasn't back into sailing the Radial until this time in 2011. I initially struggled to perform well last year due to my lack of strength and technique after returning to the boat.
‘But I could feel my ‘sixth sense’ (of sailing) was still there and I've got lots of past experiences to help me recover my sailing level more quickly.
‘Since I've been spending loads of time in the gym, I’ve become fitter and fitter which has allowed my technique to show through.’
 | Despite some Big Wind struggles Lijia Xu CHN took her third World Cup title at Semaine Olympique Francaise de Voile 2012 - Thom Touw © |
While Xu showed in Qingdao she could handle light weather Hyeres was a heavy weather regatta, so many were surprised at her good result.
Xu explained. ‘Well I had not sailed for two months after the Miami OCR due to a broken bone in my hand. That gave me the chance to be even more physical training focused, so I could push really hard to get stronger and fitter. I must say I did benefit from the solid training, despite the accident, as I am stronger than I have been and that helped in the heavy conditions.
‘I am really enjoying my return to sailing over the last year. For me it is the whole journey of everyday life I treasure the most; training, racing, travelling, studying, family and friends etc.
‘My British coach Jon Emmett gives me a completely different approach, of really understanding the sport of sailing, the positive attitude towards everything, scientific and effective training without injury, balancing personal life and career. All in all train hard, play hard and enjoy the journey in the meantime.
‘From now to the Olympics I will be mostly sailing four to five times a week, depending on the weather and the training load. And we do long speed work, short courses as well as match racing and so on. Usually my daily training program includes weights and aerobics in the gym, sailing and I end the day with a Pilates session.
‘I am very excited because we will have good Chinese sailors in Weymouth.
‘Li Ling, our top RS:X Women’s sailor is amongst the World Cup medals and our RS:X Men’s sailor Wang Aichen is getting good results.
‘Wang Weidong and Deng Daokun will represent China in the Men’s 470 class at their second Olympics.
‘Two Women’s 470 crews will be trying to qualify at this year's Worlds which will be held in Barcelona later this month.
‘For me the next major event is the Audi World Laser Radial Women's Championship 2012 from Friday 11th to Sunday 20th May in Boltenhagen, Germany.’
Xu had some flashes of good form at the last World Championships at Perth 2011, but two black flags knocked her back to 25th overall.
The upcoming Laser Radial World Championship will be another strong test for the Chinese sailor. Given her 2012 form the question is can she repeat her 2006 result?
by Rob Kothe and the Sail-World Team
Click on the FB Like link to post this story to your FB wall
http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=96864
4:58 AM Sat 5 May 2012GMT
Click here for printer friendly version
Click here to send us feedback or comments about this story.
Click for further information on
Related News Stories:
MORE STORIES ...
|
|
Second gallery of images from the Medal Races - Day 6 of the ISAF World Sailing Cup Melbourne - featuring the Laser Radial (Women), Laser (Men), Finn, Womens 470 and Mens 470.
...
[more]
At Weta we have lots of new sailors or people who have come back to sailing after a long time away from it. So we often get a lot of questions about 'how to'. We have started a tips and tricks series to try and help people out and these are a few of our helpful videos!
...
[more]
Jeff Crow was on site at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne to capture this gallery of images during the Finn Medal Race.
...
[more]
Photographer Jeff Crow was out on the water at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne to capture this gallery of images during the 470 Men and 470 Women's Medal Races.
...
[more]
Sail-World's NZ Editor, Richard Gladwell was on the water for Day 5 of the ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne and filed this second gallery of images.
...
[more]
First gallery of images from the Medal Races - Day 6 of the ISAF World Sailing Cup Melbourne - featuring the Laser Radial (Women), Laser (Men), Finn, Womens 470 and Mens 470.
...
[more]
Star Sailors League 2013 - Update from Cayard Sailing:
Two races were held today in 10-12 knots out of the east. Austin and I went into todays races at the back of the leader board, but had a good day and managed to climb up a few positions.
...
[more]
Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 2013-14 is on day 4 of Race 5. With gusts up to 60 knots expected to batter the fleet within the next 24 to 48 hours, the skippers have been busy preparing their teams - ready for action as the race 5 to Sydney continues.
...
[more]
At the ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne today saw the first day of Olympic boat class medal races with the Men's and Women's 470, Finn, Laser, Laser Radial fleets contesting.
...
[more]
ISAF World Sailor of the Year, Matt Belcher’s feat of winning his 18th consecutive regatta in the 470 class, has outshone the other results on the penultimate day of the ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne.
...
[more]
Sail-World's NZ Editor, Richard Gladwell was on the water for Day 5 of the ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne and filed this first gallery of images.
...
[more]
Photographer Jeff Crow was on the water today at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne to capture this gallery of images. Enjoy!
...
[more]
In the Mini Transat, as and when boats arrive, the pontoons at Pointe-à-Pitre are abuzz with activity and tales of the sea told time and again. Meanwhile, the fleet of singlehanders still at sea slims down gradually. For now the movement is still slow, but the pace is expected to accelerate during the weekend.
...
[more]
Building upon the success of last year’s initiative to take the 52 Super Series to America for the first time, Quantum Key West looks set to attract seven 52’s including the 2013 world champions, Niklas Zennström’s Rán Racing and 2013 Key West winners, Azzurra, from Europe.
...
[more]
The ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne continued with action on the water today. Photographer Jeff Crow was on site to capture this gallery of action shots.
...
[more]
At the Laser Masters World Championships, the idea that sailing without a hat under a blistering hot sun was harmless, left Jon Emmett sick and languishing deep in the Radial Apprentice fleet, but with one day’s racing to go, he is on the brink of an overall victory after a remarkable recovery.
...
[more]
Photographer Jeff Crow was out on the water at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne to capture this gallery of images.
...
[more]
In the Mini Transat, Geneva-based sailor Justine Mettraux crossed the finish line in Pointe-a-Pitre in second place in the early hours of this morning to sail into the history books as the highest achieving female sailor in the history of the event.
...
[more]
The third edition of the Barcelona World Race will close the first season of the newly defined programme for the IMOCA Ocean Masters World Championship which was launched today. The next Barcelona World Race will be preceded by a double-handed transatlantic race between New York and Barcelona starting on 1st June 2014.
...
[more]
On day two of the Star Sailors League Final, three races were held in perfect conditions, once again. East winds of 10-14 knots and bright sunshine made for another postcard day in Nassau. Austin and I got off to a good start with a fourth place in the first race of the day. We had a great start, good speed upwind so we were able to stay a head of the heavy traffic.
...
[more]
Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 2013-14 is on day 3 of Race 5. It was a day of tense race viewing as OneDLL stormed to victory claiming maximum points in the scoring gate, with Derry~Londonderry~Doire and Henri Lloyd claiming second and third respectively in one of the tightest battles yet.
...
[more]
Despite some bleak weather expectations for Day 5 of the ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne 2013, Port Phillip turned on a corker day. The grey skies and big seas of the morning eased as the day progressed. The sun shone brightly and all appeared to be well with the world – today was just the second of sunshine and summer warmth.
...
[more]
The gales which hit Melbourne yesterday have abated somewhat for the fifth day of the ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne.
For those with longer memories, a repeat of the third day looks to be on the weather cards, with moderate winds, a big confused sea, brighter skies and sunshine.
...
[more]
The mixed crew Nacra 17 is one of the new Olympic classes that have been selected for the 2016 Olympic Games. This week they are racing for the first time as a part of the ISAF World Sailing Cup Melbourne and the boat park at Sandringham Yacht Club abounds with luminaries of the multihull world, each looking to make or assist those trying to make their mark on the new Olympic class.
...
[more]
In the Mini Transat village, it’s a day of respite. Today, everyone is waiting for the arrival of Justine Mettraux (TeamWork) who is still more than a hundred miles from the finish in the 16.00 (GMT +1) ranking report. On land, families and friends of the skippers try to suppress their impatience ...
...
[more]
At the Laser Master World Championships, Vanessa Dudley is one of only eight women competing in Oman, yet her performance in the Radial Grand Master fleet could create one of the biggest upsets of the regatta. Dudley, a talented amateur sailor from Sydney Australia, is engaged in a fascinating duel with American Bruce Martinson.
...
[more]
Photographer Jeff Crow took to the water at Sandringham to capture this gallery of photos during the ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne.
...
[more]
Enjoy this additional selection of images captured on site during the ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne by photographer Jeff Crow.
...
[more]
Photographer Jeff Crow was out on the water at Sandringham to capture these photos during the ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne.
...
[more]
Day 4 ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne - Unfortunately today competitors from 24 countries in the Olympic classes had to sit out racing due to the westerlies gusting in excess of 35 knots that howled across Port Phillip, causing massive seas to build and pound the Sandringham rock wall.
...
[more]
|
|
Our Advertisers are committed to our sport, please support them!
This site and its contents are © Copyright TetraMedia Pty. Ltd and/or the original author, photographer etc. All Rights Reserved.
Photographs are copyright by law. If you wish to use or buy a photograph you must contact the photographer directly (there is a hyperlink in most cases to their website, or do a Google search.) with your request.
Please do not contact
Sail-World.com
as we cannot give permission for use of other photographer’s images.
Only if the photographer named on the image is Sail-world.com, Powerboat-world.com, Marinebusiness-world.com or NZBoating-World.com.
Contact us
.
Ph: +61 2 8006 1873
or complete our
feedback form
Contact us
.
View our Privacy Policy.
[ Go Home]
[ Banner Advertising Specification]
[Bot Archive ]
Customised news feeds -Marine Industry companies, Clubs and Associations have their own customised version of our news feed on their website.
Look_here_to_see_examples
|
| | |
.jpg)
