China's Fu Yuanhui gestures the awarding ceremony of women's 100m backstroke swimming final at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 8, 2016. Fu Yuanhui won the bronze medal with 58.76 seconds. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)
By Han Lin
RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese young swimmer Fu Yuanhui is becoming a new internet star as in just two days, her official Weibo account, a Twitter-like social media platform, attracted 3.65 million fans and over 90,000 comments.
Her popularity online is not all thanks to her performance in Rio de Janeiro, even though she won the bronze medal in the women's 100m backstroke final -- it is mainly for her incredible use of the rare phrase "prehistorical power".
Tens of thousands of internet users were overwhelmed by this 20-year-old swimmer for her sincere manner and humorous expression in an interview after the semifinal.
In the semifinal of the event on Sunday, Fu finished the course in a time of 58.95 seconds.
After knowing her result, Fu's eyes suddenly widened and she exclaimed: "58.95? I thought it was 59 second! Wow! Am I so fast? I am very satisfied with my performance. "
She suddenly cracked, "I wasn't reserving my energy for the final, I used my ‘prehistorical power'."
"Prehistorical power" comes originally from a popular Chinese comedy "The Journey of the Flower." But Fu said she used it to mean she had spared no efforts.
When asked if she was hopeful about the final, a smiling Fu replied, "Not at all! I am already very happy with today's result. I have set my personal best."
Since the interview, the "prehistorical power" has gone viral and internet users have posted pictures of a Fu appearing energetic and vivacious and used them to create a series of emoji.
They love Fu and praise Fu as "simple, genuine and candid."
In the final on Monday night, Fu tied for the bronze with 58.76 seconds, 0.01 off the silver medalist U.S. Kathleen Baker.
"It is probably my short arms to blame," is the answer from her which simmers with laughter.
