Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

China's hairiest man seeks Olympic torch duty
Times Online ^ | July 31, 2007 | Sam Knight

Posted on 08/01/2007 12:26:25 PM PDT by Squidpup

China's hairiest man, a wannabe pop star who calls himself King Kong, wants to carry the Olympic torch on its journey to Beijing in 2008.

Yu Zhenhuan, from the northeastern province of Liaoning, told the Xinhua news agency that his fame and extreme hirsutism qualified him to be one of the 21,880 people who will carry the torch on its roundabout, 85,000-mile voyage next year.

"It would be a great honour to join the Olympic torch relay," said Mr Yu, a 30-year-old rock singer who was recently deposed as the world's hairiest man by a pair of Mexican brothers. "The Olympics belong to everyone — the common people and those with abnormalities included."

Born with hair growing all over his body, except for the soles of his hands and feet and few patches on his face, Mr Yu said his life of adversity made him an ideal candidate to carry the torch, a symbol of Prometheus's stealing of fire from the gods which has been a fixture of the modern Olympics since it was introduced at the Berlin games in 1936.

"First I am a celebrity, inside and outside of China," he said, "and secondly, I think my experience in coping with a disfigurement ties in with the notion of Olympic spirit."

Mr Yu has said that he adopted the nickname King Kong not only on account of his hairiness but also because he shares the monstrous ape's "obstinacy and affectionateness". In 2004, he had to undergo surgery to remove hairs from his ears that were interfering with his hearing and he has fought his corner before, suing a carnival in Beijing for using his image without his permission.

In his current campaign, he already has the support of the Chinese gymnast, Xing Aowei, part of the men's gold-medal-winning team at the Sydney Olympics, who said: "In him, I see the perseverance and bravery of the Chinese people. I will help him with publicity and give him some ideas."

Nonetheless, Mr Yu will have to apply like anyone else to the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) for a part in the complex transfer of the torch and flame next year. The route, which will cross five continents, has already touched diplomatic sore-spots, with its intentions to pass through first Taiwan and then Tibet on its way to ascend Mount Everest.

"We welcome celebrities to apply to join the torch relay," said a spokesman for BOCOG, "but it is hard to assess his chances, as the recruitment is open to everyone."

Although hair covers 96 per cent of Mr Yu's body, he is no longer considered the world's hairiest man. He has been replaced in the Guinness Book of World Records by Victor “Larry” and Gabriel “Danny” Ramos Gomez, from Mexico, who have a 98 per cent rating. The number of hair follicles we are born with is determined by our genes. Hirsutism is caused by high levels of sex hormones and the sensitivity of follicles to those hormones. Extreme hirsutism, like Mr Yu's, is known as atavism.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: 2008olympics; china; chitchat; hair; hairy
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-43 next last

1 posted on 08/01/2007 12:26:39 PM PDT by Squidpup
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Squidpup

Hirsuit pursuit?.....


2 posted on 08/01/2007 12:27:20 PM PDT by Red Badger (No wonder Mexico is so filthy. Everybody who does cleaning jobs is HERE!.......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Squidpup

When the going gets hairy...


3 posted on 08/01/2007 12:28:19 PM PDT by Hegemony Cricket (You can take the boy out of the country, but you just can't get the smell off his shoes.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Squidpup

Hirsute......


4 posted on 08/01/2007 12:28:33 PM PDT by Red Badger (No wonder Mexico is so filthy. Everybody who does cleaning jobs is HERE!.......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Squidpup

5 posted on 08/01/2007 12:28:49 PM PDT by HarmlessLovableFuzzball
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Squidpup

He wants to carry the torch or possibly be the torch.


6 posted on 08/01/2007 12:29:29 PM PDT by RightWhale (It's Brecht's donkey, not mine)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HarmlessLovableFuzzball

You were a must to show up on this thread! :o)


7 posted on 08/01/2007 12:30:18 PM PDT by Squidpup ("Fight the Good Fight")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: HarmlessLovableFuzzball

whats with this guy is he part panda


8 posted on 08/01/2007 12:30:29 PM PDT by Gone_Postal (We are not interested in the possibilities of defeat)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Squidpup

Let the wookie win.


9 posted on 08/01/2007 12:30:29 PM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Squidpup
He's one for the ladies:


10 posted on 08/01/2007 12:30:46 PM PDT by the_devils_advocate_666
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Squidpup

11 posted on 08/01/2007 12:31:07 PM PDT by OB1kNOb (Support Duncan Hunter for the 2008 GOP presidential nominee. He will build the fence!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: the_devils_advocate_666

Isn’t that John Edwards...hair stylist?


12 posted on 08/01/2007 12:32:02 PM PDT by Osage Orange (The old/liberal/socialist media is the most ruthless and destructive enemy of this country.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Squidpup

He needs some gold chains...


13 posted on 08/01/2007 12:32:08 PM PDT by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - they want to die for islam and we want to kill them)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Squidpup

14 posted on 08/01/2007 12:32:08 PM PDT by TLI ( ITINERIS IMPENDEO VALHALLA)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Squidpup

Ha !


15 posted on 08/01/2007 12:39:49 PM PDT by HarmlessLovableFuzzball
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: RightWhale

You beat me to it. Please tell me he’s not vying for the job to throw it in the kettle!


16 posted on 08/01/2007 12:49:21 PM PDT by DanielLongo (Don't tread on me)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Tijeras_Slim

LOL. It’s not wise to upset a Wookie!


17 posted on 08/01/2007 12:50:16 PM PDT by DanielLongo (Don't tread on me)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Squidpup

I hope this guy doesn’t have any sisters....yuk.


18 posted on 08/01/2007 1:01:04 PM PDT by paddles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Squidpup

Is he Rogainian?


19 posted on 08/01/2007 1:05:38 PM PDT by Pajama Blogger (Pajama Power)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Squidpup
China's hairiest man seeks Olympic torch duty

Is this a good idea?

20 posted on 08/01/2007 1:17:04 PM PDT by SIDENET (Hubba Hubba...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-43 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson