What was nice was that I was very calm and relaxed prior to the race; as I was in former years .

赛前我感觉很平静，很轻松，就和之前的一样，这点非常好。

youdao

And in former years, the first season is the period that outstanding achievement increases strong.

而往年，第一季都是业绩强劲增长的时期。

youdao

This overtime, however, was the exception, FOR in FORmer years it had been the almost invariable rule to work till half past seven in summer.

不过这种加班加点的情况只是一种例外，因为在前几年夏天工作到七点半仿佛是理所当然的。

youdao

Former South African President Nelson Mandela spent twenty-seven years in prison.

VOA: special.2010.02.07

Nkunda is a former general in the Congolese army, whose armed rebellion has destabilized much of eastern Congo for years.

VOA: standard.2009.04.18

The four former top generals, who were suspected of playing a part in the February,2005 slaying of former Prime Minister Hariri, have been jailed for nearly four years.

VOA: standard.2009.04.30

Last month, a court in Milan sentenced Italy's former intelligence chief Nicolo Pollari to 10 years in prison, and his former deputy, Marco Mancini, to nine years, over the Abu Omar case.

BBC: Italy Abu Omar rendition: Col Romano pardoned in CIA case

Like Samoa, both Fiji and Tonga have lost former heads of state in recent years: Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, a former president of Fiji, died in 2004 and King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV of Tonga died in 2006.

ECONOMIST: Malietoa Tanumafili II

Correspondents say the Catholic Church in Austria has been losing support in recent years after its former head was sacked as a result of a scandal involving gay priests in a teaching college.

BBC: Pope's choice for bishop declines