Chinese Swimmer Wu Peng Eyeing "Final Olympics"
- 13 years ago
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Chinese Olympic swimmer Wu Peng has long been a celebrity in China since he first appeared in the 2004 Games in Athens. But now he says his Olympic career will be coming to a close after next year's Games in London.
On Monday, Chinese swimmer Wu Peng declared that next year's London Olympics will be his last time competing. 24-year-old Wu's first Olympics were the 2004 Athens Games, where he made the finals.
He followed that performance with a joint 4th place in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Now Wu is intensifying his training schedule to prepare for London 2012, and he's eager to go out strong with a medal victory.
[Wu Peng, Olympic Swimmer]:
"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 medalists. So this is what I am aiming for."
Wu's been training in Michigan for the past two years, and has also gone tit-for-tat with US Olympic champion Michael Phelps in competitions this year. Wu beat Phelps at the Michigan Grand Prix and the Charlotte Ultraswim competitions, then took third to Phelps's first at the World Swimming Championships held in Shanghai earlier this year.
Wu says the friendly rivalry is going to continue into next summer's Games.
[Wu Peng, Olympic Swimmer]:
"I have to say he 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."
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.
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Chinese Olympic swimmer Wu Peng has long been a celebrity in China since he first appeared in the 2004 Games in Athens. But now he says his Olympic career will be coming to a close after next year's Games in London.
On Monday, Chinese swimmer Wu Peng declared that next year's London Olympics will be his last time competing. 24-year-old Wu's first Olympics were the 2004 Athens Games, where he made the finals.
He followed that performance with a joint 4th place in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Now Wu is intensifying his training schedule to prepare for London 2012, and he's eager to go out strong with a medal victory.
[Wu Peng, Olympic Swimmer]:
"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 medalists. So this is what I am aiming for."
Wu's been training in Michigan for the past two years, and has also gone tit-for-tat with US Olympic champion Michael Phelps in competitions this year. Wu beat Phelps at the Michigan Grand Prix and the Charlotte Ultraswim competitions, then took third to Phelps's first at the World Swimming Championships held in Shanghai earlier this year.
Wu says the friendly rivalry is going to continue into next summer's Games.
[Wu Peng, Olympic Swimmer]:
"I have to say he 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."
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.