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THIS time last year, she was embroiled in a dispute with the Singapore Athletic Association over training schedules and allowances.
The start of 2008, however, has seen the Olympics-bound Zhang Guirong take on a humbler tack in a bid for the best preparation.
The shot-put specialist, currently based in Shenyang, China, has promptly submitted her training plans in the lead-up to the Aug 8 Beijing Games.
It is a far cry from her previous stance, when she and fellow China-born thrower Du Xianhui refused to submit the plans if financial assistance was not guaranteed.
'I want to put everything that happened in 2007 behind me,' said Zhang in a telephone interview yesterday. The 30-year-old has long stated that Beijing would be her last stab at the Olympics.
'My focus now is on the future, especially the Olympics, which is the highest-level meet for any athlete.'
She returned to China after retaining the shot-put gold at last month's South-east Asia Games in Thailand.
But she is willing to return to Singapore to train if the SAA wants her to.
In her proposal, the national record-holder for the discus, shot put and javelin also asked the association for about $3,000 a month for expenses.
This includes fees for her China coach Li Da.
The merits of her proposal will be debated at an executive committee meeting next Monday, said SAA president Loh Lin Kok.
But he felt the plans were still 'not concrete'.
For example, high-level meets - such as next month's Asian Indoor Championships and March's World Championships - did not figure in her competition plans.
Instead, she is targeting lower-level ones, such as the three-legged Asian Grand Prix in May and June.
Said Loh: 'We want her to go to meets where she can compete against those who are better than her, and not just around her level.'
On her part, Zhang is hopeful that events will turn out better this year than last year.
Her participation in the SEA Games had been thrown into doubt, following months of protracted talks with the SAA over training allowances.
Last August, she and Du abruptly left for their native China in August without permission.
But, in a surprise turnaround, Zhang returned to Singapore in November, saying she wanted to defend her SEA Games title.
Her winning throw of 17.21 metres met the Olympic 'B' qualifying standard, but was far short of her national record of 18.57m set three years ago.
The bronze-medal distance at the 2004 Athens Olympics was 19.49m. Then, Zhang heaved 16.58m and failed to qualify for the final.
She said: 'The past year has been very trying, but I've not given up my Olympic dream.
'But, to have a good outing there, there must be support from others, such as the SAA.
'You have my word that I'll train hard and give it my best shot.'
limze@sph.com.sg
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