Zhou Chunxiu - 2010 Asian Games Women Marathon Champion

Defending Champion Zhou Chunxiu from China is first in Asian Games in Guangzhou  2010.

Picture 1 - Women Marathon (Left to Right), Indonesia's Triyaningsih (313), Kim Kum-ok (160) from North Korea, Zhou Chunxiu (154) and Zhu Xiaolin from China (155)

After running 35km kilometres, at the last 7km stretch , China's Zhou Chunxiu started to pull away from the rest of the field in women's marathon. She became the eventual winner at the Asian Games on Saturday, 27th Nov 2010. She also defended her title which she had won in the 2006 Asian Games in Doha. 

Picture 2 - Zhou Chunxiu coming in first in DOHA Asian Games 2006

After Doha Asian Games 2006, she surprisingly claimed the London Marathon title in year 2007 with a time of 2 hr 20 min 38 sec - the fastest time of 2007. She continued her excellent form at the 2007 Osaka World Championships, where she became the only Chinese marathoner to finish on the podium at world class level, winning silver.

Picture 3 - Silver in World Championships in Osaka in 2007

Also, Chunxiu, an Beijing Olympics bronze medallist, clocked a season best of 2hr 25min 00sec, in this Asian Games, with teammate Zhu Xiaolin taking silver (2:26.35) and North Korea's Kim Kum-Ok claiming bronze (2:27.06).

Picture 4 - Zhuo Chunxiu (right) and Zhu Xiaolin (left) are teammates who came in first and second in the Asian Games 2010 women marathon, respectively..

Zhou told the reports that she was sticking to the coach plan all the way during the race that gave her the victory to Chunxiu and a second placing for Zhu Xiaolin. Chunxiu told, "In the first 30km, we carried out the strategy decided by our coach."

"We worked together so each of us took the lead in turn every three kilometres on the basis it would bring honour to our country no matter which of us won the gold medal.

"In the last 10km, the stronger one would take the lead."

Using the coach's strategy, Chunxiu and Xiaolin decided to make a break at the 30km mark in order to drop Kim out of contention of remaining in the pack at the last 10km.

Chunxiu took the cue to push the pace which immediately made Kim to lose ground on the two Chinese runners. Xiaolin, from then on, was doing her best to cling on to Chunxiu, as much as she can. At the 40km mark approximately, Xiaolin was already around a minute behind Chunxiu. Relentlessly, Chunxiu kept pushing the pace till the end and finally won the race in 2hrs 25min 00sec, while her fellow country athlete was second with a time of 2hrs 26min 35sec. Kim, doing a time of 2hrs 27min 06sec, from North Korea finished only 31sec from Xiaolin.

Picture 5 - Kim Kum-Ok (2679) from North Korea was second in Beijing Olympics in 2008.

According to Chunxiu, "This has been my best season in terms of results, which is what I expect because I am an experienced athlete with good basic skills." 

"I did quite well in Seoul in March (when she finished second) and here at the Asian Games.

"I had a personal best performance as well as good training performances. The marathon ended a perfect year for me."

Picture 6 - Asian Games 2010 women marathon champion, Zhou Chunxiu

Her coach Liang Songli, a few years back mentioned, "She is really hard working and can cope under very high pressure. She is also very smart and can always keep a clear mind." Coach Liang Songli had earlier praised Chunxiu for her devotion in training and feels that she is one athlete from China who has come in first in the world arena.