Liu Zige
Encyclopedia
Liu Zige is a world record holding swimmer from China
. She swam for China at the 2008 Olympics
, where she won the women's 200 butterfly in a new world record (2:04.18).
She won the women's 200 m butterfly Gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
. In the final, she clocked a time of 2:04.18, smashing Jessicah Schipper's
world record by over 1 second, and won China's only gold medal in swimming at the Games. Her teammate, Jiao Liuyang, took the silver in 2:04.72, also under the former world mark. Schipper took the bronze in 2:06.26.
Liu's win was considered a big upset, as she was relatively unknown prior to the Beijing Games. She made her international debut at the 2005 World Championships
, where she placed 20th in the 200 m butterfly at 2:14.25. She progressed steadily afterwards, and prior to the Olympics, her best time was 2:07.76, from the Chinese Olympics Trials.
Liu, nicknamed "Lucy," spent some time training under Jessicah Schipper
's swimming coach, Ken Wood
, and Wood sold Schipper's training program to Liu's coach. She would eventually beat Schipper and broke her world record in 200 meter butterfly during the 2008 Summer Olympics
.
In 2009, Liu regained the 200m butterfly world record from Schipper at the Chinese National Games, with a time of 2:01:81 to win the gold medal. She later added the short course world record at the World Cup in Stockholm (2:02:50). She then even shortened that time in the next meet at Berlin with the time of 2:00.78.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. She swam for China at the 2008 Olympics
China at the 2008 Summer Olympics
China was the host nation of the 2008 Summer Olympics.China was represented by the Chinese Olympic Committee , and the team of selected athletes were officially known as Team China....
, where she won the women's 200 butterfly in a new world record (2:04.18).
She won the women's 200 m butterfly Gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics was held over a thirteen day period from August 9 to August 21, with the conventional events ending on August 17 and the new marathon 10 km events being held on August 20 and 21...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. In the final, she clocked a time of 2:04.18, smashing Jessicah Schipper's
Jessicah Schipper
Jessicah Lee Schipper OAM is an Australian swimmer. She trained at the Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton club in Brisbane, under veteran coach Ken Wood up until the conclusion of the 2008 Summer Olympics. Schipper now trains under the guidance of Stephan Widmer with the Commercial Swimming Club...
world record by over 1 second, and won China's only gold medal in swimming at the Games. Her teammate, Jiao Liuyang, took the silver in 2:04.72, also under the former world mark. Schipper took the bronze in 2:06.26.
Liu's win was considered a big upset, as she was relatively unknown prior to the Beijing Games. She made her international debut at the 2005 World Championships
Swimming at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships
The swimming events at the XI FINA World Championships took place in the Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montreal, Canada from July 24–31, 2005.The swimming portion consisted of 50 events – 25 for men and 25 for women – all of which were swum in a long-course pool...
, where she placed 20th in the 200 m butterfly at 2:14.25. She progressed steadily afterwards, and prior to the Olympics, her best time was 2:07.76, from the Chinese Olympics Trials.
Liu, nicknamed "Lucy," spent some time training under Jessicah Schipper
Jessicah Schipper
Jessicah Lee Schipper OAM is an Australian swimmer. She trained at the Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton club in Brisbane, under veteran coach Ken Wood up until the conclusion of the 2008 Summer Olympics. Schipper now trains under the guidance of Stephan Widmer with the Commercial Swimming Club...
's swimming coach, Ken Wood
Ken Wood (coach)
Ken Wood is an Australian swimming coach, who has coached many Olympic and World Championship medal-winning swimmers. He is the head coach at the Redcliffe Club at Redcliffe, Queensland, on the northern edge of Brisbane....
, and Wood sold Schipper's training program to Liu's coach. She would eventually beat Schipper and broke her world record in 200 meter butterfly during the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
.
In 2009, Liu regained the 200m butterfly world record from Schipper at the Chinese National Games, with a time of 2:01:81 to win the gold medal. She later added the short course world record at the World Cup in Stockholm (2:02:50). She then even shortened that time in the next meet at Berlin with the time of 2:00.78.
Major achievements
- 2007 National Champions Tournament – 1st 200 m butterfly
- 2008 Beijing Olympics women's 200 m butterfly Gold
- 2009 World Aquatics Championships – 2nd Women's 200 m butterfly
External links
- http://2008teamchina.olympic.cn/index.php/personview/personsen/5347