China's rising swimmer Fu Yuanhui became an Internet hit in China on Monday after a captivating post-match interview with state broadcaster CCTV. [Special coverage]
Fu, 20, posted a time of 58.95 seconds in the women's 100-meter backstroke semifinal at the Rio Olympics.
"Huh?! I thought it was 59 seconds," a surprised Fu told the CCTV reporter when she was informed of her result. "I didn't expect I was that fast. I'm pretty satisfied."
When asked if she saved her power for the final, a gasping Fu said she spared no efforts to do her best in the semifinal.
She was set to compete in the final on Monday in Rio.
"The result was my career best," said Fu.
Fu spent three months with the national team in Australia as their buildup to the Olympics, but she admitted she suffered a lot there.
"Hell knows what I've been through … Sometimes I felt like I was dying."
Later, she "defied" the reporter's question of whether she was expecting the final.
"No, I'm already very satisfied for the result," Fu said with a smile on her face.
Fu also made headlines last year when she won the 50-meter backstroke at the FINA World Championships and helped China win the 4x100-meter medley.
When the medley team finishing the race, a happy Fu also became emotional. But another incident after she won the 50-meter gold at the worlds also gained popularity.
She was hit hard by the strap of her swimsuit after pulling it, complaining to the reporter the suit was too tight.
The number of followers on China's Twitter-like Weibo has surged from 56,000 to more than 1.5 million as of press time.
The 1.79-meter swimmer from East China's Zhejiang Province was hailed on the Internet, as many netizens called on Chinese athletes to give more "genuine" reactions like Fu did, instead of only expressing gratitude.
