Lao swimmer Vilayphone Vongphachane hopes to set a new national record in the women's 50m freestyle when she competes in the Beijing Olympic Games next month, Lao newspaper Vientiane Times reported Wednesday.

Vilayphone, holding the national record of 34.29 seconds, hopes to improve her time to 33 seconds at the Beijing Games. The senior at Laos' National University, finished in 36.05 seconds at the 2004 Athens Games.

Her friend, Thepphithak Chindavong, will attend the Olympic Games for the first time. In Beijing, he will compete in the men's 50m freestyle with hope of finishing in 28 seconds. In Laos, his time was 34 seconds.

Thepphithak, 18, is studying at Laos' Vientiane College, the newspaper said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 31, 2008)