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Li Xuemei Will Miss 100m in Sydney
Asian sprint queen Li Xuemei will not compete in the women's 100-metre dash at the Sydney Olympics. The Chinese Olympic team has decided to cross the event of its agenda, according to Chinadaily.
Li, plagued by the lingering injuries, failed to present any convincing times this year. Her poor form forced the Chinese side to make a last-minute decision to give up the event, according to a source with the Chinese Athletics Association.
Li, the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games 100-metre winner, once clocked an astonishing 10.79 seconds in 1997 at China's National Games. She continued to surprise Chinese fans that year, running under 11 seconds several times and then vowed to be the first Chinese to enter the women's 100-metre final in Sydney.
Unfortunately, she sustained a disastrous knee injury last March. It took her a year to recover from it. She made a shinning comeback in February this year, breaking the National 60-metre Indoor record. But life continued to play tricks -- she injured her right foot two months later and lost her form again.
"To enter the 100-metre final in Sydney was my biggest dream. It will be the regret of my life to lose the chance this time,'' she said.
But she also said the decision would push her to do her best in the women's 4x100 metre relay, in which China has the potential to enter the final eight.
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