National coach flies to capital to be with Olympic gold medallist after fourth collapse in past 18 months
China's top swimmer collapsed in training this week - the fourth time she has done so publicly over the past 18 months - causing serious concerns about her state of health and the country's medal prospects in the pool in 2008.
Luo Xuejuan, who won the 100 metres breaststroke in Athens, collapsed while weight training at the national training centre in Beijing on Wednesday.
She has a recent history of collapsing after races or during training. In Athens after she completed her leg of the 4x100 metres breaststroke relay she slumped on to the bar and had to be lifted out of the pool.
Citing ill-health at the time, the 21-year-old then pulled out of the 200 metres breaststroke at the Athens games.
In the run-up to the world championships in Montreal this summer she had to stop training on a number of occasions, saying she felt faint and had problems breathing. She also collapsed after getting out of the pool following a semi-final at the national games last year. Officials had to carry her to the medical centre where she was revived.
The national team coach Zhang Yadong said he flew immediately from Hangzhou to Beijing when he heard of Luo's latest health scare.