Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    BEIJING, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Romanian men's vault veteran Marian Dragulescu has planned to retire with a gymnastic gold after the Beijing Olympic Games.

    Dragulescu told Xinhua on Sunday: "The Beijing Olympics is important to me as it will be my last competition. I wish an Olympic gold which I missed could put an end to it."

    Dragulescu complained of a little pain, but he believed he has made good preparations for the upcoming competition and hoped he will be in good shape at the right moment.

    The 27-year-old termed the absence of Chinese gymnastics ace Li Xiaopeng in vault as "a good surprise".

    "Are you sure of his quit? I didn't know that he will be absent. Li is a tough competitor and has defeated me in vault in the 2003 World Championships and claimed the world title. He is really good," said Dragulescu.

    Dragulescu added that will definitely improve his chance to capture the gold. "If I do my routine in a good way, I will win," said the three-time Olympian.

    Li announced his absence from vault in the Beijing Olympic Games last Sunday when moving into the Olympic Village with the Chinese delegation. The decision is made because of his unsatisfactory second maneuver.

    The Sydney double Olympic champion, however, will be one of the three members to perform on vault in men's team competition which requires only one vault instead of two, according to China's head coach Huang Yubin.

    Dragulescu said the Romanian team hope they can bring home at least one gold medal from the Beijing Olympic Games gymnastics competition.

    Dragulescu won the silver in floor exercise and the bronze in vault in the Athens Olympics before his first retirement. He claimed the vault gold in the 2005 World Championships when reemerging. In the 2006 World Championships, Dragulescu became a double champion in vault and floor exercise.

    Polish world vault champion Leszek Blanik said on Thursday that the absence of Li Xiaopeng in vault will not boost his chance to win a medal as the competition will be tense. He identified Dragulescu as one of the major rivals.

    Drgaulescu is ranked world No. 1 in vault.