The Bangkok University Games were not on the list of the schedules to most of the U.S. teams with the Beijing Olympics Games one year out.
The United States collected 10 gold, 10 silver and 14 bronze medals, finishing eighth in the Bangkok University Games, one of the worst results for the U.S. in the Universiade history.
All the 10 gold medals came from the swimming competition when the USA Swimming formed up a national team for the Universiade. At the 2005 Universiade in Turkey, the U.S. swimmers pocketed 11 golds.
The U.S. did not pitch a single athlete to the athletics, shooting, gymnastics and water polo, while sending modest teams to compete in basketball, diving and golf.
Since the 2003 Daegu Universiade, the U.S. has not sent an athletics team to the biannual event, which resulted in a severe medal-cut to the team.
In Bangkok, with world-record holders, Olympic champions and world champions crowding in the pool, a second-string national U.S. team overpowered Japan, Ukraine, Germany, Russia, and others.
"The World University Games, in many ways, will be a repeat of the World Championships in which many countries are sending their best swimmers," said Mark Schubert, USA Swimming National Team head coach and general manager.
"For our athletes, this will be a good preparation for Beijing Olympics because they will be traveling to Asia and facing similar conditions as Beijing."
In Bangkok, swimming was the only reliable medal contributor for the U.S. as it won only two silver and six bronze medals from other sports like diving, taekwondo, golf, men's volleyball and gymnastics.
As for basketball, the United States, the incontestable world No. 1, did not send a NCAA all-star team. Instead, two university teams were dispatched to Bangkok for men's and women's competitions.
The University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team finished ninth at the Bangkok Universiade, while the Charlotte 49ers finished sixth in the women's basketball.
The U.S. men's basketball team had competed in 18 Universiades and claimed 13 gold medals.
In the women's basketball, the U.S. have been crowned in 13 of the 14 Universiade, capturing six golds, six silvers and one bronze medal.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article