US swimming sensation Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin on Wednesday shared their Beijing Olympic experiences with the public amid exciting yelling and shouting of fans at a gathering sponsored by Omega in the Olympic common domain.
Other inspiring swimmers included Australian freestyle swimmer Ian Thorpe who won five Olympic golds and Russian four Olympic golds owner Alexander Popov.
Commenting on how to cope with pressure, Phelps said, "I try not think about it and just think about what I have to do and what I want to do. I think if I can do that I can stay focused and stay ahead in the right direction."
At the Beijing Olympics, Phelps beat legendary Mark Spitz' seven-gold mark at one Olympic Games by winning eight golds in 400-meter individual medley, 200-meter medley, 100-meter and 200-meter butterfly, 200-meter freestyle and both the 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relays, and finally the 4x100-meter medley relay.
Asked how he thought people's assumption that he could not do it, Phelps said that saying made him more excited and drove him more to want to do something.
Natalie Coughlin, who won one gold, two silvers and three bronzes at Beijing Olympic Games, also told her Olympic experiences in Beijing to the media.
"I am very happy. I was on the podium for six times. I was the first female American who has won six medals in one Olympic Games, so I am very proud. I wish there are more golds but I am very happy," she said.
Coughlin said how to properly deal with pressure was the most important thing for her success.
"When competing in the Olympic Games, there are billions of people watching you at the very moment, you get very nervous. My ability to deal with pressure helps me to perform so well," she said.
Talking about her future plan, Coughlin said with an upbeat smile: "I will get a long break, I am going to marry next April, I am going to have some personal time and then go back to the pool to refocus on the London Games."
Coughlin also praised the Water Cube and said she enjoyed the time in Beijing.
(Xinhua News Agency August 20, 2008)