Russian gymnastics legend Alexei Nemov on Wednesday predicted that the star-studded Chinese men's squad would defend their team title in the upcoming Athens Olympic Games.

Nemov, 28, clinched the golds of horizontal bar and individual all-around at Sydney Olympics, reaped the team and vault titles in Atlanta Olympics, and took another double on pommel horse and floor exercise in the 1999 world championships in Tianjin, China.

"It is the third time for me to compete in Olympic Games, and I myself feel great pressure this time," veteran Nemov said after the podium training at the Olympic Indoor Hall, the venue for the Athens Olympics gymnastics competitions.

"I am 28 years old now," he noted.

Nemov began his gymnastic career in 1982 when his mother took him to the gym. When he was 14, he joined the former Soviet junior squad and since then his life was spent mostly at the National Training Center -- Krugloe Ozero.

In January 2001, Nemov was awarded "World's Best Athlete" in the men's athletic category at the World Sports Awards in London.

Responding to a question about why he did not choose to retire after the Sydney Games, Nemov said, "Because I love the sport."

Source: Xinhua