With an turnover in the last stroke, Chinese teenager Gao Chang had to render the world title in women's 50m backstroke to Aussie Giann Rooney. However, the 18-year-old "slow coach" finally made some achievements under pressure.

　　In Montreal, Gao Chang entered the 50m backstro ke semi-final with the fastest qualifying time of 28.70. Then she surprisingly clinched the top place in the semi-final round at 28.31, slicing 0. 17 off the previous championships record.

　　"Why could I achieved it?" The shy girl scratched her head then said, "I didn't really know why I could break the meet record. Maybe because of the cloudy sky. Besides, they all said that I needed more pressure so as to perform well."

　　What's the pressure? Gao finished sixteenth in the 100m backstroke semi-final round. "It's a blow to me," said Gao.

　　The Shandong native girl believed that those were the reasons leading to her success in the 50m semi-final.

　　In fact, Gao had smashed the Asian record in the one-lap backstroke event several times and grabbed a silver medal in the event at the short-course World Championships last year.

　　Gao is hungry for the accomplishments in major competitions such as the World Championships and the Olympic Games. However, her unhurried way to handle affairs is really an obstacle during her training.

　　"I'm always slower than the other swimmers while starting off," Gao once said. "Although I have improved a lot, my start is still not fast enough."

　　Gao's start on Thursday was not bad. Her reaction time ranked fourth among the eight finalists, then she slightly kept ahead on course. However, a mistake in the last stroke ruined her performance.

　　"I'm used to touch the wall with my right hand, so I just added a stroke at the last moment. If I touched the wall with my left hand, the result might be different," Gao said.

　　22-year-old Rooney is more experienced. "I could see the arms of the Chinese girl who swam beside me. I knew I had to get a good touch on the wall, then it really came."

　　With a silver medal hanging on her neck, Gao said she was half happy and half regretful. "I need to improve my skills of start, turn and final touch."

　　After all, it was the first time that she took part in the long- course World Championships. Under pressure, Gao had proved her potential in the pool with a meet record. In the future, the 1.78-meter "slow coach" is likely to swim faster.

　　Source: Xinhua