Zhang Juanjuan - China

Zhang Juanjuan is the star of China’s strong women’s trio, the team many believe can best challenge the dynastic run of the Koreans in Athens.

Zhang, 23, will make her Olympic debut in Athens. She has competed at the past two world championships, achieving top ten results in individual and team events both times. In 2003, she was fifth in the individual and seventh in the team. In 2001, she was eighth in the individual and won the gold medal in the team event.

Zhang has enjoyed other success since bursting on to the world scene after Sydney 2000. She won the 2001 Asian championships and was fourth the following year at the Asian Games and fourth again at the 2003 Asian championships. She has also excelled at Grand Prix tournaments, winning an event in 2002.

In her only international appearance this year, Zhang proved her potential for Athens by winning the individual silver medal and the team gold medal at the Italian Grand Prix in Rovereto in May. She is likely to be prominent in both team and individual events in Panathinaiko.