To Chinese Taipei swimmer Hsu Chi Chieh, to catch up with Michael Phelps might be a bit unrealistic. But to be on the same par with host swimmer Wu Peng is something he is striving for.
"I hope I could be as good as Wu Peng in the future," Hsu said after one-hour training at the futuristic Water Cube Monday. The 19-year-old will soon race against Wu and US giant Phelps in the men's 200 butterfly at the Beijing Games.
Relatively unknown in the swimming world, Hsu is a rising star in the Chinese Taipei team. Starting swimming at 7 with his father as the coach, he broke Taiwan's 200 meters butterfly record at 15.
"Breaking the (Taiwan) record is as easy as having a meal," Hsu once said.
"He has no rivals in Taiwan," said father Tony Hsu. A former swimmer himself, the senior Hsu has been attending the Olympic Games since 1972, first as a competitor, then an official and now the coach of his son.
As a?college student, Hsu Chi Chieh trains 10 times every week and five to six hours each time. The father said he plans to send his son to the United States to focus on swimming after the Olympics.
"Many US universities want him. And I believe training and the competitive environment there?are better for him," he added.
Tony Hsu expects his son to make it to the top 16 in Beijing. "Some Taiwan media tipped my son for the top eight, which put a lot of pressure on the kid. I want him to get a little bit nervous at the Games, but not too much," he said.
Chi Chieh ranked fifth at the Doha Asian Games, his best ever performance at international competitions.
"We make plans for him and set goals at each stage. He never failed us," said the proud father.
Looking beyond 2008, Tony said the result of the Beijing Games is not that important.
"He comes for experience," said the father. "We are preparing for the 2012 London Games. At that time, he will be 23, the prime age (for swimming). I hope he could get an Olympic medal in the future."
(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2008)