Zhang Jinjing has criticized the Chinese press for their lack of support and respect. In an interview published in TIYU CANKAOBAO, the ever-confident world champion on parallel bars vented his frustration with journalists who ran headlines such as "Zhang Jinjing Is Getting Old" and "The Zhang Era Is Over."

Zhang refuted claims that he was over the hill, saying that in his opinion, he was "still the best." He blamed his disappointing performances at the Asian Games and the recent Chinese Nationals on injuries. "Last year, I took two golds both at the Asiad and at Nationals. That I couldn't obtain a better result was due to an injury that heavily affected my performance at the time. I did what I could at every competition, and I feel I have nothing to be ashamed of."

Zhang pleaded for more support, saying that "the idea that journalists, when a man encounters trouble, do not help or encourage him, but say "serves you well," is ridiculous." He added that he found "those who write off an athlete when he doesn't win a few competitions or jump to conclusions" "highly irresponsible."

Aside from Zhang's criticism of the Chinese press, the TIYU CANKAOBAO interview was notable for Zhang's refusal to make predictions for the all-around competition at the upcoming Tianjin Worlds. In previous interviews, the 22-year-0ld seldom failed to proclaim himself the top favorite for the ail-around victory in Tianjin. In the TIYU CANKAOBAO interview he only said that "the difference between the no. 1 and the no. 2 and 3 is sometimes so small that you can't differentiate between them," adding that his main goal for the Tianjin Worlds was "to win the gold on parallel bars and to vie for gold on the other events."

Zhang appears to have set his all-around sights On the victory in Sydney: "What I want most is to take the title that most proves a gymnast's worth - that of Olympic all-around champion."

Interestingly, Zhang sees not defending world champion Ivan Ivankov but Alexei Bondarenko as his main rival. "Bondarenko is good on all events, and he's a veteran of many great championships. He's very stable. At next year's Olympics, he will most likely be my greatest rival,"

Sydney will probably be Zhang's last competition before retirement. The Chinese national champion has announced he will call it quits in 2000. His goal for after the Olympics is "to charge my battery, get on a higher step culturally, and adapt myself to trends developing in society." He is keen to prove that athletes are more than a bundle of well-developed muscles. "l don't want people to say, "all athletes are stupid," so I'II choose public relations, trade, or something like that. I'd love to get an MBA, either in China or abroad. But we'll see."

To make his dreams of getting an MBA abroad come true, Zhang is practicing English with his girlfriend, identified only as "Miss Liu" who wants to be an MBA student herself. He claims his English Is OK: "my everyday English isn't too bad.