The country`s netizens comforted Athens Olympics gold medalists who cracked under pressure and failed to defend their titles with the messages, "Don`t be upset! You are still our hero!" and "Trust yourself! We will always support you!"

Du Li, the women`s 10 m air rifle Athens gold medalist who burst into tears after finishing fifth in the Beijing final, was one such recipient.

"I wanted so much to see the national flag hoisted from the podium. I tried my best," the 26-year-old shooter said, choking back tears when interviewed on China Central Television.

Du Li

One online message Du received was from a woman surnamed Ye from Beijing`s Haidian district who said: "I`ve heard all hosts of recent Olympic Games failed to clinch the first gold, so why should we be any exception?"

After Tan Xue, China`s only gold medal hope for the women`s individual saber fencing event, lost 15-9 to Russia`s Sofiya Velikayas on Saturday, netizen Xiao Fazai consoled her with the words: "No matter what happens, we will love you forever. Anyway, you have the chance to prove yourself in the team competition".

The hearts of Chinese spectators went out to Zhu Qinan, the men`s 10 m air rifle champion in Athens, on Monday when he wept on the podium after his narrow defeat by the Indian Abhinav Bindra.

"Don`t cry, my hero. No athlete has yet kept the title in consecutive Games. You have many opportunities in the future," netizen Zhu Youxiang wrote.

Bing Xueshuang sent Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen, the badminton women`s doubles champions who, after making "terrible mistakes" that shattered their concentration were eliminated by the Japanese duo Miyuki Maeda and Satoko Suetsuna in the quarter-finals on Monday, the encouraging message: "Learn from your mistakes and go on competing!"

Netizens that participated in online "what if he fails?" discussions have even sent pre-match messages of comfort to Liu Xiang in anticipation of the world champion 110 m hurdler`s possible defeat after he begins defending his title at the Bird`s Nest, on Aug 18.

Yao Ming, the Chinese flag bearer at the Game`s opening ceremony, has generated even greater support.

The NBA star led the Chinese basketball team to a defeat by 31 points on Sunday at the hands of the United States team.

The team`s resounding loss evoked the message "They may have lost the game, but did not lose as athletes" from an anonymous netizen.

Chinese sports fans should not put athletes under the unbearable pressure that results from focusing solely on gold medal wins, a China Youth Daily commentary said.

"We need to develop the confidence, rationality, openness and tolerance appropriate to citizens of a fast-growing emerging country. Being a good host is both more meaningful and gratifying than merely notching up gold medals," it said.

Xinhua