Fans flock to view funny Fu

Swimmer Fu Yuanhui's bronze medal might not be the most eye-catching prize Team China has won at the Olympics, but the "prehistorical power" she displayed in placing third in the women's 100-meter backstroke has vaulted her into the global spotlight - along with some hilarious TV interviews.

Thanks to her comical comments and exaggerated facial expressions, Fu's following on Weibo, a major Chinese microblog service, has climbed from less than 50,000 fans before the Games to more than 2.7 million - and counting.

When asked by an interviewer whether she had preserved her strength after the semifinal, the 20-year-old Fu replied: "I've been utilizing prehistorical power."