Following are China's top 10 athletes for the year of 2009 selected by Xinhua News Agency: 1. Zhang Lin (male, swimming)

Photo shows Zhang Lin, the 22-year-old swimmer who won the gold medal in the men's 800-meter freestyle at the Rome World Championships in July, shattering the world record and ending the gold drought for Chinese male swimmers in the world's top swimming event. (Xinhua/Reuters File Photo)

The 22-year-old swimmer won the gold medal in the men's 800-meter freestyle at the Rome World Championships in July, shattering the world record and ending the gold drought for Chinese male swimmers in the world's top swimming event.

2. Guo Jingjing (female, diving)

Photo shows Guo Jingjing, the 28-year-old diver who claimed three-meter springboard individual and synchronized titles in the Rome World Championships in July, ruling both disciplines for the fifth time. (Xinhua/Reuters File Photo)

The 28-year-old diver claimed three-meter springboard individual and synchronized titles in the Rome World Championships in July, ruling both disciplines for the fifth time.

3. Liu Zige (female, swimming) Photo shows Liu Zige, the 20-year-old swimmer who finished second in the women's 200m butterfly at the Rome World Championships in 2 minutes 3.9 seconds. Liu surpassed the world 200m butterfly record with a time of 2:01.81 at the 11th National Games. She also shattered the world mark twice at the World Cup short-course series.

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