In a shocking few days, China burst onto the scene with a flurry of World Championship gold medals two years ago. The sudden demise is just as stunning.
Out of the blue, Chinese women won everything from 1,500 to 10,000 meters, collecting six medals overall at the 1993 Worlds in Stuttgart, Germany. It seemed the start of a new dynasty, especially when they confirmed it with a string of world records soon afterwards.All lies in ruin now.
No Chinese women even reached the final this year in middle and long distance events. On Thursday, Dong Zhaoxia dropped out halfway through her 5,000-meter heat, eliminating the last hope.
No questions on the issue were welcome here.
"No," said Shande Yang, a team official, when asked about the plight of the Chinese runners. Why no comment? "No, why," and off he went.
Two years ago, coach Ma Junren was far more talkative about the success, waxing about seemingly magic potions of turtle and worm fungus soups, and running diets that included running a marathon a day in China's highlands.
It convinced few in the west and soon accusations about doping started flying. Drug scandals with Chinese swimmers added to the charges. But none of the big stars were caught.
Ireland's Sonia O'Sullivan was beaten by Dong Liu in the 1,500 two years ago and vowed not to be surprised again if the Chinese come back for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
"I have to train harder to beat them," she said. "If I was racing them again, it would be a different story."
For one thing, Ma's Army of top class runners has broken up after some of his disciples feared he would literally work them to death. Apart from the harsh training regimen, he also forced them into group appendectomy operations and sent Dong away because she let her hair grow and started seeing a boyfriend.
His star pupil, Wang Junxia, the 10,000-meter world champion and 3,000 and 10,000 world record holder, led the revolt.
"He overtrained them so much that they've never been seen again," said cardiologist Dr. David Martin, a coach at Georgia State University and marathon expert.
"You cannot run a marathon every day without getting injured or distraught," Martin said. "What Ma created was an aberration that couldn't last more than a year."
It hasn't.
None of Ma's former proteges are here, and Wang is already preparing herself for Atlanta, hoping to recapture her unbelievable speed. The replacements at the World Championships have sunk back into insignificance.
Meanwhile, the world records remain well out of reach of the greatest athletes, testimony to China's brief shining moment.