Chinese favour revives career
RON REED, Herald - Sun
20th January 1998

THE drugs furore at the swimming has not prevented China extending a goodwill gesture that is likely to see a young Chinese figure skater competing for Australia at the Winter Olympics next month.

After a year of high-level negotiations, Chinese Olympic and skating officials have approved an international clearance for Anthony Liu - real name Yue Ming Lui - who now lives and trains in Brisbane.

Liu, 23, a former Chinese national champion, defected during a team visit to Australia in August, 1993, and did not expect to get any favors from his old home.

So he was resigned to sitting out the Games, which start in Nagano, Japan, on February 8, and was training more with an eye on the world championships in Minneapolis a month later.

"This is a big shock. I didn't expect this," he said yesterday.

"I wish I could have had more time to prepare for the Olympics. Hopefully I can catch up."

Liu is ranked No. 22 in the world, but finished second in the Olympic qualifiers in Vienna last October.

Because China was refusing to entertain the idea of a clearance, Australia was forced to surrender his Olympic spot.

Now, after the Chinese change of heart, his participation depends on another country not taking its full quota, with Germany and Azerbaijan believed likely to oblige.

Liu has been an Australian citizen since August, 1996, and has assured Olympic officials that he is here to stay. His parents arrived at Christmas on a two-year working visa and are operating a restaurant - Chinese, of course - at a Brisbane sports complex.

By walking out on the Chinese during an official visit, Liu risked seeing his career disintegrate. Both he and Australian officials had almost given up hope of getting his release.

But according to Australian sources, a change of office-bearers in the Chinese skating scene did the trick.

Australia's Olympic chief, John Coates, knew the new man, and the deal was done as a gesture of goodwill. "The Chinese were very good. He stayed here without their permission and when you break the rules, you wait," an Australian official said.

"But they did co-operate and did want to co-operate."

While Liu is not regarded as a medal chance in Nagano, his ability and future transcend his current status, which has been dragged down by a four-year absence from top competition between his decision to stay in Australia and the granting of citizenship.

He has an ace up his sleeve in that he is one of only five skaters in the world who have successfully completed the most difficult manoeuvre, a quad jump - in which the skater must turn four revolutions in the air.

If and when he makes his appearance in Nagano, this will be his opening jump.

His coach of four years, Colin Jackson, says: "If you haven't got the quad, you're still in with a chance. But if you've got the rest and the quad, it's yours."