‘I’m an athlete, not an internet celebrity,’ says Chinese Olympic swimmer Fu Yuanhui

China Olympic swimmer Fu Yuanhui revealed a slight disenchantment with her newly found fame on Sunday morning, after her adorable personality gained her enormous admiration in Hong Kong.

“My profession is athlete, not an Internet celebrity or an ‘expression package’,” Fu said during a diving demonstration by Chinese medallists at the Victoria Park swimming pool.

“I hope I can achieve more professionally, and then, and then I’ve forgotten what I wanted to say.”

The bronze medallist’s candid style has gained her a huge fanbase both on the mainland and in Hong Kong, and the interview she gave when she told media that she had used up all her “mystical power” after finishing her 100m backstroke race at the Olympics quickly went viral online.

Although Fu and her fellow swimmer, gold medallist Sun Yang, did not take part during the two-hour diving demonstration that started at 9.30am, the excited audience at the pool welcomed the duo with the loudest cheers whenever they appeared on the big screens at the venue.