2012 London Summer Olympics

[ Check Out Stunning Pictures from the Opening Ceremony ]

A top Australian coach has come out in support of the embattled Chinese swimming sensation, 16-year-old Ye Shiwen, saying that her exploits at the London Olympic Games were not the result of any drug program as was being portrayed in the media.

Denis Cotterell, who has trained former Australian Olympic gold-medalist, Grant Hackett and also coached leading Chinese swimmers, including Shiwen, asserted on Saturday that his ward was "100 per cent clean".

The Chinese swimmer's explosive run in the 400m medley, especially the last 100 meters, which fetched her the world record, drew allegations of doping from World Swimming Coaches' Association (WSCA) executive director, John Leonard, who said this was too good to be true.

The basis of his suspicion was that Shiwen breathtaking final lap was even faster that the United States' ace men's swimmer Ryan Lochte at London.

Shiwen had shaved off nearly five seconds off her own personal best in the 400m medley and then conquered the 200m medley crown, to make it a grand double at the Games.

Cotterell said the win had to be seen in a proper perspective. He said that given the advancement China had made in sports, and the talent and work ethic of the swimmer, it was not something out of the blue.

Citing examples of Australian great Ian Thorpe and the United States Michael Phelps, the Aussie trainer said that Shiwen five-second improvement wasn't a one-off.

He said if one has to question Shiwen's achievements, they should also question the exploits of the likes of Thorpe and Phelps.

"Having worked with the girl and seeing how hard she works, it is disappointing that the kid is in the media conference on her own with 100 journalists having to defend herself," Cotterell said.

The international Olympic Committee (IOC) and the swimming's world body, FINA, have come out in support of the teen Chinese swimmer, saying there was no basis for the rumors circulating in the media.

But singling out Shiwen hasn't gone down well with the most populous nation in the world, and a wave of patriotism is sweeping the country.

Even as China continues to conquer new frontiers in sport, the people back home are bitter that one of their own has been singled out for criticism, while a 15-year-old Lithuanian swimming champ wasn't asked such thorny questions simply because she had shifted her base to Britain and was also studying there.

 

 

Top Aussie Coach Comes Out in Embattled Ye Shiwen's Defense