China's Hairy 'King Kong' Wants To Carry Olympics Torch

One of the world's hairiest men, who nicknames himself "King Kong", has launched a campaign to carry the Olympic torch during the relay ahead of next year's Beijing Games.

"The Olympics belong to everyone - the common people and those with abnormalities included," Yu Zhenhuan says. "First I am a celebrity, inside and outside of China. Secondly, I think my experience in coping with a disfigurement ties in with the notion of the Olympic spirit."

Hair covers 96 per cent of Yu's body. He may be surpassed only by a pair of Mexican brothers, who are listed in the Guinness Book of World Records, having 98 per cent hair cover.

Yu is being supported in his bid by Xing Aowei, who won a gymnastics gold medal for China at the Sydney Games in 2000.

"In him, I see the perseverance and bravery of the Chinese people," Xing says.

Olympics organisers in China have yet to make a decision and are taking a wait-and-see attitude.

 � Copyright 2004-2015 The News Vault. All rights reserved.