Chinese swimmer Zhang Lin left out of Olympic squad

 BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese swimmer Zhang Lin will not take part in the upcoming London Olympic Games, vice¹ president of the China Swimming Association Shang Xiutang confirmed here on Sunday.

According to Shang, the swimming squad² for the London Games was basically decided³. A total of 51 swimmers, spearheaded by Olympic champion Liu Zige and world champion Sun Yang, will go to the Olympic Games. World champion Jiao Liuyang, Zhao Jing, and veteran Wu Peng are also on the list. However, Beijing Olympics runner-up Zhang Lin was left out.

"There is only slim hope for Zhang Lin to go to the Olympic Games," Shang said. "We feel sorry for him. He is a very good swimmer and had won glory at the Beijing Olympic Games."

Zhang grabbed a silver medal in the men's 400m free at the Beijing Olympic Games, marking China's first-ever Olympic medal in men's swimming. He won a historic gold in 800m freestyle in 2009 Rome worlds to become the first male Chinese swimmer to break a world record in freestyle in 49 years, and also the first male Asian swimmer to seize gold in a long-distance freestyle event at the Olympic Games or the world championships in 73 years.

He has been in a slump⁴ since the 2010 Asian Games where he failed to win a gold medal. He failed to reach the Olympic A standard at the National Championships this April in both the 200m and 400m freestyle. Zhang's only chance to compete in London is the men's relay, however, Shang said it's almost impossible.

"We hope we can win a medal in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay, so we must make sure every swimmer in our team is on good form," Shang said. "It's hard decision to leave Zhang Lin out, and that's way we spend so much time deciding the squad."

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

2 squad   

n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组

参考例句：

• The squad leader ordered the men to mark time.班长命令战士们原地踏步。
• A squad is the smallest unit in an army.班是军队的最小构成单位。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 slump   

n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌

参考例句：

• She is in a slump in her career.她处在事业的低谷。
• Economists are forecasting a slump.经济学家们预言将发生经济衰退。