By Lei Lei (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-03-25 08:53

OLYMPIA, Greece: The suspense of who would be the first Chinese torchbearer for the Beijing Olympics gradually built up over the past month.

Yesterday, it ended with Olympic champion Luo Xuejuan chosen for the glory.

After the Olympic flame was ignited yesterday evening Beijing time, the Athens 100m breaststroke gold medalist received the torch from the first torchbearer, Greek athlete Alexandros Nikolaidis, and ran 200m from the grove of Pierre De Coubertin.

"To be the first Chinese torchbearer is a great honor," said the 24-year-old Luo. "The honor is not just for me, but for all the Chinese athletes, for Beijing and for China."

Luo became the national champion when she was only 16 and won the 50m and the 100m breaststroke gold medals at the 2001 World Championships.

Before retiring last year because of severe heart problems, Luo had established herself as the top Chinese swimmer in the world, winning one Olympic gold, five world championship titles and numerous Asian and national titles.

Luo, who was nominated by Volkswagen, the supplier of the Beijing 2008 Olympic torch relay, said she was as happy as winning gold medals when she heard about the privilege.

"Through passing the flame, I hope I can also pass to the whole world the Chinese people's enthusiasm toward the Olympics," she said.

A Volkswagen official listed several reasons as to why Luo was chosen.

"At the Athens Games, Luo was the only swimming gold medalist from China," said Ye Wen, communication director of Volkswagen. "After retirement, she chose to study to further improve herself and contributed a lot in public activities, which set a good example."

Luo, a student of Peking University, said: "Retiring was a hard decision for me, and after that I was always thinking of making some contribution to the Beijing Games Now I have realized my dream."

It was especially sweet given it came true in the same country she won Olympic glory.