the environment, the two main Olympic venues-the Bird's Nest stadium and Water Cube-are at places of good energetics. The 7.8-km north-south city axis, which runs through Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City in downtown Beijing, perfectly dissects the two modern landmarks, which represents the Chinese people's pursuit of tranquility and peace.

Many fengshui enthusiasts studied the distribution of Olympic venues and even the layout of Beijing City. It is said that the Beiding Niangniang Temple, one of the most famous religious sites in Beijing's history, is right between the Bird's Nest and Water Cube. The temple is associated with "water," one of the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire, and earth) that form the origin of the world according to fengshui theory. For many this is a convincing answer for a big haul in the pool.

Speedo swimwear

Swimming suits that mimic shark skin are cited as another hi-tech factor behind a spate of new world records.

Since its debut at the beginning of this year, almost all the record-breaking feats were connected with the Speedo LZR Racer suit. Known as the fastest suit available, the swimwear, designed with help from U.S. space agency NASA, keeps swimmers in a corset-like grip that is said to allow wearers to maintain the best body position in the water for longer and reduce drag.

"You feel so streamlined in the water. You feel like you are cutting through the water like a hot knife through butter," said Australian swimmer Grant Hackett, who broke the Olympic record in men's 1,500 meters freestyle, in an interview with the Swimming World magazine in February.

Hardworking athletes

When asked what makes a faster pool, John Mcllhargy, who consulted on the design of the Beijing pool, said that it was "a faster swimmer."

FINA's Marculescu also said that it is the athletes who create world records, downplaying the importance where they swim and what they wear.

Japan's Kitajima, for example, has a disadvantageous height of 1.78 meters. But for what he is lacking, he made up through tough training.

"I've been training rather hard," the 25-year-old told the media before the Beijing Olympics. "I must do my best in Beijing Olympics."

Kitajima's efforts paid off when he defended his titles in men's 100 and 200 breaststroke, becoming the only swimmer who had won four Olympic breaststroke gold medals, two in Athens and two in Beijing.

In the Beijing Games, the United States (12 gold medals) and Australia (6) maintained their lead in Olympic swimming competition. Britain, Japan and Germany each won two gold medals.

The Chinese also joined the gold jubilation when 19-year-old swimmer Liu Zige rewrote Australian Jessicah Schipper's world record in women's 200 meters butterfly by more than 1 second, snatching host China's only swimming gold at the Beijing Games.

Swimmers from France, the Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Italy, South Korea, Brazil and Tunisia also secured gold medals at the Water Cube.

A total of 21 countries won medals in the Beijing pool. And the magical Water Cube witnessed another record as for the first time swimmers from all the five continents went on the podium in one Olympic Games.