1. Early Life and Background
Luo Xuejuan's journey into competitive swimming began in her early childhood, influenced by her family's concern for her well-being.
1.1. Childhood and Education
Luo Xuejuan was born on January 26, 1984, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China. She started swimming in 1991 at the age of seven. Her parents encouraged her to take up the sport because they believed she was too thin and that physical exercise would help her become stronger.
2. Athlete Career
Luo Xuejuan's athletic career was characterized by rapid progression and consistent success across various national and international swimming events, particularly in breaststroke.
2.1. Early Career and Domestic Competitions
Luo Xuejuan first gained national attention at China's 2000 Olympic Trials held in Jinan. She won the 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 1 minute 8.87 seconds and secured second place in the 200-meter breaststroke with a time of 2 minutes 27.29 seconds. Despite her strong performance, she was surprisingly selected to compete only in the 200-meter breaststroke, which was considered her weaker event, at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney a few months later.
In 2001, Luo Xuejuan showed significant improvement. At the Chinese Nationals in April, she set a national record in the 100-meter breaststroke with 1 minute 7.85 seconds. She also finished second in the 200-meter breaststroke with 2 minutes 26.37 seconds, behind Qi Hui, who set a world record of 2 minutes 22.99 seconds in that race. Shortly thereafter, at the 2001 East Asian Games in Osaka, Japan, Luo Xuejuan further lowered her 100-meter breaststroke national record to 1 minute 7.42 seconds. Later that year, at the 2001 Chinese National Games, she won the 100-meter breaststroke with a new Asian record of 1 minute 6.96 seconds. It was during these games that she uttered her famous quote about being a "clean swimmer," in response to suspicions of doping among some competitors who posted unexpectedly fast times.
2.2. World Championships
Luo Xuejuan achieved considerable success at the FINA World Aquatics Championships, securing multiple gold and bronze medals across various breaststroke events and relays.
2.2.1. World Championships (Long Course)
Luo Xuejuan made a significant impact at the 2001 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, where she collected four medals. She won gold in both the 50-meter breaststroke with an Asian record of 30.84 seconds (just 0.01 seconds shy of the world record) and the 100-meter breaststroke with an Asian record of 1 minute 7.18 seconds. She also earned bronze medals in the 200-meter breaststroke, setting a personal best of 2 minutes 25.29 seconds, and as part of the 4x100-meter medley relay team, which finished in 4 minutes 2.53 seconds. Her breaststroke split in the relay was 1 minute 6.47 seconds, the second-fastest split ever at that time.
At the 2003 World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona, Spain, Luo Xuejuan aimed to break Penny Heyns' world record of 1 minute 6.52 seconds in the 100-meter breaststroke. Although the record was broken in the semifinals by Australia's Leisel Jones (1 minute 6.37 seconds), Luo Xuejuan, as the defending champion, qualified third fastest with 1 minute 7.76 seconds. In the final, Luo Xuejuan employed an aggressive strategy, starting very fast and splitting an astonishing 30.87 seconds at the 50-meter mark. This pace disrupted Jones, and Luo Xuejuan managed to win the race with another Asian record of 1 minute 6.80 seconds, marking the third-fastest time in history. Jones finished third (1 minute 7.47 seconds), while Amanda Beard of the USA took second (1 minute 7.42 seconds). Luo Xuejuan also successfully defended her 50-meter breaststroke world title, finishing in 30.67 seconds (after a 30.64-second semifinal, just 0.07 seconds off the world record). Furthermore, she swam the fastest breaststroke relay split of 1 minute 5.79 seconds, contributing to China's gold medal victory in the 4x100-meter medley relay with an Asian record of 3 minutes 59.89 seconds, the second-fastest time in history and making China the second team after the USA to break the four-minute barrier.
In the 2005 World Aquatics Championships in Montreal, Canada, Luo Xuejuan was unable to defend her 50-meter and 100-meter breaststroke titles. She finished fourth in the 100-meter breaststroke with 1 minute 7.60 seconds and seventh in the 50-meter breaststroke with 31.50 seconds. Her performance was understandable given that she competed throughout the championships with an injured ankle. Despite this, she won the 100-meter breaststroke at the 2005 Chinese National Games, posting 1 minute 6.86 seconds, the third-fastest time of the year. She also secured a silver medal in the 200-meter breaststroke with 2 minutes 26.50 seconds, placing behind Qi Hui, and recorded the fastest relay split in history (1 minute 5.69 seconds) while swimming the breaststroke leg for the Zhejiang team in the 4x100-meter medley relay.
2.2.2. World Championships (Short Course)
At the 2002 FINA Short Course World Championships in Moscow, Russia, Luo Xuejuan did not win any gold medals. She finished second in the 50-meter breaststroke with 30.17 seconds and third in the 100-meter breaststroke with 1 minute 6.36 seconds. She also earned a bronze medal in the 4x100-meter medley relay.
2.3. Other International Competitions
Beyond the World Championships and Olympics, Luo Xuejuan also achieved success in other major international swimming events.
2.3.1. Pan Pacific Championships
The 2002 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Yokohama, Japan, proved to be somewhat disappointing for Luo Xuejuan. She managed to secure a bronze medal in the 100-meter breaststroke with 1 minute 8.70 seconds and finished fourth in the 200-meter breaststroke. Ironically, her semifinal time of 1 minute 8.14 seconds in the 100-meter breaststroke would have been sufficient to win gold in the final.
2.3.2. Summer Universiade
Luo Xuejuan demonstrated strong performances at the Summer Universiade. At the 2003 Summer Universiade in Daegu, South Korea, she earned multiple medals, including gold in the 50-meter breaststroke, 100-meter breaststroke, and 4x100-meter medley relay, as well as a silver medal in the 200-meter breaststroke.
2.3.3. Asian Games
Luo Xuejuan excelled at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea. She won gold medals in the 100-meter breaststroke, setting an Asian record of 1 minute 6.84 seconds (which was the fastest time globally in 2002), and in the 4x100-meter medley relay with a time of 4 minutes 0.21 seconds. She also secured a silver medal in the 200-meter breaststroke, finishing with a personal best of 2 minutes 24.67 seconds, behind world record holder Qi Hui (2 minutes 24.01 seconds).
2.4. Olympic Games
Luo Xuejuan's Olympic career culminated in a memorable gold medal victory, despite facing significant health challenges.
2.4.1. 2000 Sydney Olympics
Luo Xuejuan made her Olympic debut at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. She competed in the 200-meter breaststroke, a race she considered her weaker event. She posted a personal best of 2 minutes 25.86 seconds in the semifinals but faltered in the final, finishing eighth with a time of 2 minutes 27.33 seconds.
2.4.2. 2004 Athens Olympics
The highlight of Luo Xuejuan's career came at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. She won a gold medal in the 100-meter breaststroke, setting a new Olympic record of 1 minute 6.64 seconds. This was the third-fastest time in history and just 0.27 seconds off the world record. Her victory was particularly remarkable as she had qualified for the final as the seventh-fastest swimmer with a mediocre time of 1 minute 8.57 seconds, meaning she swam in the outermost lane during the final. Leisel Jones, who had set an Olympic record of 1 minute 6.78 seconds in the semifinals, managed only a bronze medal in the final with 1 minute 7.16 seconds. Luo Xuejuan withdrew from the 200-meter breaststroke to focus on the 4x100-meter medley relay. Unfortunately, the Chinese team finished fourth in the relay with 4 minutes 3.35 seconds. Luo Xuejuan swam her leg of the race while experiencing a heart problem and had to be helped out of the pool by her teammates after completing her breaststroke portion (1 minute 8.82 seconds).
3. Major Records and Awards
Luo Xuejuan holds several significant records and has earned numerous accolades throughout her career. She was a former world record holder in the 50-meter breaststroke (short course).
Her major achievements include:
- Olympic Games:**
- Gold medal in 100m breaststroke at the 2004 Athens Olympics (Olympic record: 1:06.64).
- FINA World Aquatics Championships (Long Course):**
- Gold medals in 50m breaststroke (2001, 2003).
- Gold medals in 100m breaststroke (2001, 2003).
- Gold medal in 4x100m medley relay (2003).
- Bronze medals in 200m breaststroke (2001) and 4x100m medley relay (2001).
- FINA World Championships (Short Course):**
- Silver medal in 50m breaststroke (2002).
- Bronze medals in 100m breaststroke (2002) and 4x100m medley relay (2002).
- Pan Pacific Swimming Championships:**
- Bronze medal in 100m breaststroke (2002).
- Summer Universiade:**
- Gold medals in 50m breaststroke, 100m breaststroke, and 4x100m medley relay (2003).
- Silver medal in 200m breaststroke (2003).
- Asian Games:**
- Gold medals in 100m breaststroke and 4x100m medley relay (2002).
- Silver medal in 200m breaststroke (2002).
She set multiple Asian records in the 50-meter breaststroke, 100-meter breaststroke, and 4x100-meter medley relay during her career.
4. Philosophy and Values
Luo Xuejuan is known for her strong commitment to fair play and the integrity of sports. During the 2001 Chinese National Games, amidst suspicions of doping due to unusually fast times posted by some unknown swimmers, she famously stated, "The water in this pool is not very clean, but I am a clean swimmer myself." This quote became widely known and underscored her personal philosophy on sportsmanship.
As a torchbearer for the 2008 Summer Olympics, she articulated her view on the Olympic ideals, stating, "As a torchbearer, I think the Olympic spirit means purity, fair play, friendship, passion, peace and harmony." This further emphasized her dedication to the core values of the Olympic movement.
5. Health Issues and Difficulties
Luo Xuejuan's career was significantly impacted by various health issues and other challenges. She experienced a heart condition, which was a recurring concern throughout her competitive years. During the 4x100-meter medley relay at the 2004 Athens Olympics, she swam with this heart problem, requiring assistance from her teammates to exit the pool after her leg of the race.
In 2005, she competed at the World Championships in Montreal despite an injured ankle. The 2006 season saw her skip all major international meets, including the World Short Course Championships in Shanghai and the Pan Pacific Championships in Vancouver. This absence fueled rumors of disagreements with her longtime coach, Zhang Yadong, who had been appointed head coach of the Chinese national team, reducing his individual attention to Luo. It was even rumored that she had been "exiled" back to train in her home province of Zhejiang, though swimming authorities maintained she remained a national team member. Despite winning the 50-meter breaststroke and placing second in the 100-meter breaststroke at the 2006 Asian Games Trials, her name did not appear on the official list of athletes for the games. The official explanation provided was that she needed more time to fully rehabilitate her heart condition in preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games, but media speculated that she was nearing retirement.
6. Retirement and Post-Retirement Activities
Luo Xuejuan's competitive swimming career concluded due to persistent health concerns.
6.1. Retirement Announcement
On January 24, 2007, Luo Xuejuan officially announced her retirement from competitive swimming during a press conference. The primary reason for her retirement was complications from a heart surgery. According to her, doctors advised that continuing to train at the intensity required for Olympic-level athletes could jeopardize her life.
6.2. Post-Retirement Activities
Following her retirement, Luo Xuejuan resumed her university studies. On March 24, 2008, she became the second torchbearer for the 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay and notably the first torchbearer for China, carrying the flame for the Beijing Games. Since 2018, she has been working as a sports teacher at Beijing Foreign Studies University.
7. Evaluation and Impact
Luo Xuejuan's career is highly regarded for her remarkable achievements in competitive swimming, particularly her Olympic gold medal and multiple World Championship titles in breaststroke events. Her consistent performance at the highest levels of international competition solidified her status as one of China's most successful swimmers. Beyond her medals and records, Luo Xuejuan is remembered for her strong moral stance on sportsmanship, exemplified by her "clean swimmer" declaration, which resonated widely within the sports community. Her emphasis on purity and fair play contributed to her legacy as an athlete who valued integrity. Despite facing significant health challenges that ultimately led to her early retirement, her dedication and resilience inspired many. In her post-retirement life, she has continued to contribute to the Olympic movement and sports education, further cementing her positive impact on Chinese and international sports.