Chinese sports fans are hailing the man they call ”Flying Spectacles Man” as their newest star.
Hu Kai, nicknamed for his ever-present gold rimmed glasses, has dominated the front pages of Chinese sports newspapers since winning the men’s 100m sprint at the University Games in Izmir, Turkey, on Sunday.
The 23-year-old student at Beijing’s prestigious Tsinghua University won in 10,3s, the fastest time over the distance by a Chinese runner this year. Such performances could win him a place on the 100m relay team for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, Chinese track and field officials were quoted as saying.
Hu follows in the path of sprinter Liu Xiang, who won Olympic gold last year in the 110m hurdles at Athens and grabbed silver in the same event at the World Athletics Championships in Helsinki, Finland, this week.
Liu’s gold was the first for a Chinese runner in a short track event, winning him massive media coverage and a bevy of commercial endorsements.
Hu (23) a native of the eastern port city of Qingdao, only began running five years ago and had never competed before attending university. A student at the graduate school of economic management, he said he was influenced most by his father, an avid sports fan who could run the 100m in a little over 11 seconds.
As for the spectacles, Hu was quoted as saying by the newspaper Titan Sports that they were required because his eyes were prone to trachoma, a type of infection.
”I’m not suited to wear contact lenses, but if I don’t wear glasses, then I can’t see,” Hu was quoted as saying.
So there’s no way around it, I just have to wear glasses.” – Sapa-AP