Teen queen Cheng leads vault assault

At the 2005 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, Cheng Fei became a household name after she accomplished a unique maneuver on the vault and became the first Chinese women's vault world champion.

As soon as she completed her backward 180-degree somersault followed by a forward 540-degree flip it was named her signature piece by the International Federation of Gymnastics (IFG).

Cheng's era had officially begun.

As the 2008 Beijing Games is fast-approaching, Cheng, the newly-appointed captain of the Chinese women's team, is ready to sprint to even greater success.

At the 2007 Gymnastics International Invitational tournament, a pre-Olympic test event, Cheng grabbed three of five gold medals on offer for women, winning the vault, floor exercises and balance beam.

Competing as team captain for the first time, Cheng admitted she has to adjust to the new role.

"As the captain, I have to take more responsibility and try to help my young teammates," said the 19-year-old. "I'm not aggressive enough to be a qualified captain just yet. I hope I can do better."

Her coach is nonetheless impressed.

"Cheng was elected captain unanimously by the whole team and her devoted and concentrated spirit in daily training has set a good example," said Liu Qunlin.

"She shoulders much responsibility in many individual events and it's not easy for her to drive the whole team at the same time. I believe the team will continue to improve under her leadership."

Picking up gymnastics at the age of 7, Cheng was admitted to the national team in 2001. At the 2004 Athens Games, her performance was considered the only highlight of the Chinese women's team, which settled for the seventh place. Cheng also finished fourth at the floor exercises.

Mastering the "Chengfei vault" after the 2004 Games, she also took the title at the 2005 worlds and has been practically unbeatable at the event ever since.

At the 2006 Denmark World Championships, Cheng's three gold medals from the vault, floor exercises and the team event sealed her leading lady status.

Considered a hot favorite to lead China to greater glory at the Beijing Olympics, Cheng said she would try to iron out any kinks beforehand despite her workload and all the attendant pressure.

"I have almost reached my peak, so it is hard for me to improve. But at the same time, some young athletes are improving dramatically quickly, which also keeps the pressure up," she said.

For the Beijing Games, Cheng plans to focus on the individual events.

"I have a few apparatus I can try, as well as the floor exercises and the team event, so it's really quite demanding for me to develop the others as well," said Cheng.

"In winter training, I will try to steady my movements and adjust my form for next year's Games."