Pulling her right hand, Mateusz Michalski helped his girlfriend Paulina Wozniak out of the pool in the National Aquatics Center, nicknamed "Water Cube", patted her shoulder and whispered to her ear.

When finding a photographer was taking pictures, the two Polish Para-swimmers stood side by side and smiled to the camera on Friday, one day before the official opening of the Paralympic Games.

"It (the Water Cube) has very nice atmosphere," Michalski said.

It's Wozniak's first Paralympics. The 16-year-old girl, who got three gold medals and one silver in the 2007 world championships, said it doesn't matter whether she can win a medal in Beijing.

"I just come here to show myself," she said.

Wozniak, who will take part in the 100m breaststroke, 200m individual medley, 100m freestyle and 200m butterfly, said she enjoyed the time training together with her boyfriend.

"He's nice, friendly, and lovely," she said with her blue eyes glittering, adding they only met four months ago and Michalski helped her a lot with the training.

Michalski, 19, is more experienced as he has been to the Athens Paralympics and won two bronzes in the 100m backstroke and 4×100m medley. This time, he will take part in three events and is also expected to get a medal for Poland.

Disabled by polio, Michalski started to train for swim when he was eight years old.

"Swimming is my life," he said.

Wozniak, who is still a high school student, also said she will continue swimming in the future as the sport gives her self-confidence. However, she also has another plan.

"I want to be an art teacher," said the girl, who learns drawing in school.

(Xinhua News Agency September 5, 2008)