CHINA: Chinese swimmer Wu Peng aims for a medal at the London Olympics in what could be his final competitive appearance

Record ID: 210603

  • Title: CHINA: Chinese swimmer Wu Peng aims for a medal at the London Olympics in what could be his final competitive appearance
  • Date: 6th December 2011
  • Summary: SHANGHAI, CHINA (DECEMBER 5, 2011) (REUTERS) CROWD GATHERING FOR SWIMMING MASTERCLASS BY CHINESE SWIMMER WU PENG AT A HOTEL SWIMMING POOL WU SWIMMING MASTERCLASS PARTICIPANTS LOOKING ON WU GETTING READY FOR SWIM WU SWIMMING UNDERWATER WU SWIMMING AWAY PHOTOGRAPHER WU TEACHING PARTICIPANTS WU GIVING SWIMMING TIPS TO PARTICIPANTS PARTICIPANTS LOOKING ON REPORTER INTERVIEWING WU (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE OLYMPIC SWIMMER WU PENG SAYING: "The London Olympics might be the last time I participate in the Olympics Games. For the past two Olympics that I have participated in, I reached the finals. So I hope to improve on that in London and be amongst the medallists. So this is what I am aiming for." WU WITH PARTICIPANTS OF SWIMMING MASTERCLASS WU TALKING TO PARTICIPANTS PHOTOGRAPHER TAKING PHOTOS UNDERWATER WU SWIMMING WU SWIMMING PAST (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE OLYMPIC SWIMMER WU PENG SAYING: "I have to say he (Michael Phelps) has a stronger ability than most of the other swimmers. So it is very difficult to beat him again at the Olympic Games. But I still have confidence not just to aim to beat him, but to basically perform at the best of my ability." WU SWIMMING WITH PARTICIPANTS WU WITH PARTICIPANTS HOTEL STAFF TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS WU SWIMMING WU MAKING A TURN UNDERWATER (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE OLYMPIC SWIMMER WU PENG SAYING: "My overall performance has been good this year. So that has reaffirmed some of the training that I have had in the United States. After I return to the U.S. next year, I want to work harder on the details and hope for a good performance in the Olympics." WU WITH PARTICIPANTS WU WIPING FACE PARTICIPANT SWIMMING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE SWIMMER WU PENG SAYING: "I feel that it is not easy for him (Ian Thorpe). As age catches up with him and as the sport of swimming develops, I feel it has not been easy for him to make this decision. So he is someone that a lot of us can learn from." WU WALKING TO HOST WU SPEAKING TO PARTICIPANTS WU SPEAKING WU WITH HOST
  • Embargoed: 21st December 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China, China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAADSCDTK8RNA428033FAX2CVX2
  • Story Text: Chinese swimmer Wu Peng on Monday (December 5) said he was aiming to cap his final Olympics by going out on a high with a medal in London next year.
    The 24-year-old butterfly specialist had made his debut at the 2004 Athens Games, making the finals of the 200m butterfly event.
    He bettered his performance in front of a home crowd at the 2008 Beijing Games with a joint finish for fourth with New Zealand swimmer Moss Burmester.
    As Wu steps up his training in time for the 2012 London Olympics, he said he was focused on winning a medal to cap what could be his final appearance in the Olympics Games.
    "The London Olympics might be the last time I participate in the Olympics Games. For the past two Olympics that I have participated in, I reached the finals. So I hope to improve on that in London and be amongst the medallists. So this is what I am aiming for," he said during an interview at a swimming masterclass event organised by sponsors in Shanghai.
    Wu, a native of the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, chose to train in Michigan in the United States for the past two years instead of remaining in China.
    His training has led to good results this year as he defeated U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps in the 200m butterfly at both the Michigan Grand Prix and the Charlotte Ultraswim competitions.
    But Phelps rallied back to win his signature event at the World Swimming Championships held in Shanghai this year, edging ahead of second-placed Japanese swimmer Takeshi Matsuda, and Wu, who came in third.
    Wu said it would be hard to beat Phelps at the Olympics but he was confident that he would do well.
    "I have to say he (Michael Phelps) has a stronger ability than most of the other swimmers. So it is very difficult to beat him again at the Olympic Games. But I still have confidence not just to aim to beat him, but to basically perform at the best of my ability," he said.
    Since debuting at the Olympics at the age of 17, Wu has been seen by the Chinese public as a young medal hopeful in all competitions, carrying the weight of a nation seeking success in the swimming arena.
    Although Wu acknowledged feeling the pressure, he said he had learnt to cope with it. He said training abroad helped ease off some of the weight and led to his improvement.
    "My overall performance has been good this year. So that has reaffirmed some of the training that I have had in the United States. After I return to the U.S. next year, I want to work harder on the details and hope for a good performance in the Olympics," he said.
    Wu said it was admirable how five-times Olympics gold medallist Ian Thorpe was attempting a bold attempt to make a comeback at the London Games.
    "I feel that it is not easy for him (Ian Thorpe). As age catches up with him and as the sport of swimming develops, I feel it has not been easy for him to make this decision. So he is someone that a lot of us can learn from," he said.
    Thorpe retired from competitive swimming in 2006 but made his comeback this year.
    Poor results at recent competitions had dampened expectations for a roaring return to the world stage for the Australian.
    As for Wu, he said he plans to do less swimming and instead focus on studying after the London Olympics, looking to take up sports-related academic disciplines.
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