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He is actually called Feng Jing and just happens to be
the youngest world champion in the history of the sport,
taking that record from Russian wunderkind Dmitri Bilozerchev,
who won the title in 1983. The impish Chinese was quite
obviously delighted with himself and what he had accomplished.
"I am the computer games champion of our national
team," he grinned, "and I made it to these World
Championships because I am the best junior in China."
 The best junior.
The best seniors stayed home to concentrate on the Chinese
National Games. Feng Jing, the son of a teacher and an
athletics coach, started gymnastics at his father's wish.
He rarely sees the family now and had not even spoken
to them in Ghent after his triumph. "They're asleep
now anyway and I wouldn't want to wake them," he
explained. His younger brother, aged five, is also involved
in gymnastics.
 Virtually unknown
on the senior circuit, Feng Jing had made appearances
at various junior meets abroad, including the 2001 American
Team Cup and the International Junior Championships in
Japan where he won rings and placed third AA. Despite
his success, he is anything but sure that he will be in
Athens: "There are a lot gymnasts better than me
in China. It's going to be really difficult for me to
make the Olympic team."
 In Ghent he was
unsure of his chances before the AA as well. "I had
hoped to maybe be among the top five. Then, when I saw
some of the mistakes by the other competitors, I thought
maybe top three. After pommel horse (his last event),
I thought I could win." Feng Jing will have even
less time to perfect his computer skills now he has hit
the big time. He may still be the best junior in China,
but now he's also best in the world.
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