OLYMPICS /
Other Teams
Ukraine sends Olympic gymnastic champions to Beijing
Xinhua
Updated: 2008-07-30 14:38
BEIJING, July 29 -- The Chinese men's team eyes most of the gymnastics medals at the Beijing Olympics but Ukraine has also sent its Olympic and European champions to Beijing, head coach of the Ukrainian men's team said on Tuesday.
Igor Korobchynsky, the four-time world championships gold medallist and the bronze medallist at the Barcelona Olympics, accompanied his two-member men's team having the pre-game training here on Tuesday.
Korobchynsky told reporters after the training that the Chinese gymnasts are strong and will be playing on their home turf. "The home crowd will give them support."
But he said they took the Beijing Games very seriously and also made good preparations.
"We are also strong. Here is the Olympic champion and here the European champion," he said, referring to Valeriy Goncharov, the parallel bars gold medalist in Athens, and Oleksandr Vorobiov, a world cup champion on rings.
Korobchynsky said he is satisfied with the training venue, the work of the Beijing Olympic organizing committee and the bus schedule, and so on..
The air is also OK, he said. "It's hot in the past days, but it's wonderful today."
After several hot and humid days, the Chinese capital became cool and nice Tuesday thanks to a shower.