CANBERRA, Jan. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- China has collected 15 golds, 10 silvers and 7 bronzes from the swimming competition at the Australian Youth Olympics which was concluded in Sydney, Australiahere on Sunday.

    According to a report from Sydney Morning Herald, China Prepares its Youth for the Duel in the Pool, it said with a few extra years of training and growing, the Chinese young swimmers will be in their prime at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.

    Australia's national head swimming coach, Alan Thompson, said earlier this month that China would replace the US as the team to beat in 2008.

    Australia's youth coach for swimming, Leigh Nugent, said the Chinese youth Olympic team was a serious challenge to the slightlyyounger Australian team and was a portent of Beijing in three years.

    "The host nation always makes an extraordinary effort for an Olympic Games. My attitude is that the Chinese will try harder than they have in the pastl," Nugent was quoted as saying.

    It said, Chinese coaches had been sent to the US after the Short Course World Championships last October to observe that team's training methods. Enditem