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August 7, 2008
Federer shows superstar status at Games
By Darren Walton, AAP
BEIJING - Michael Phelps has been afforded star billing but Roger Federer proved emphatically that he remains the true global superstar at the Beijing Olympics. Federer - who says he can't even stay fulltime at the athletes' village because of the hysteria his presence stirs among fellow competitors - created a media circus when he confronted the world's press. More than 400 journalists, photographers and TV crews packed every nook and cranny as the Swiss superstar was quizzed on everything from his imminent loss of the world No.1 ranking, to human rights issues, his rivalry with Rafael Nadal, his birthday on Friday, his girlfriend and generally what the Olympics means to the 12-time grand slam champion. "I do a lot of press throughout the year with a lot of media. Obviously this is a little bit bigger and better maybe," Federer said in between complaining of not hearing questions because "the photographers are too loud". For the second time in a row, and at his third Olympics, Federer will be Switzerland's flagbearer at Friday night's opening ceremony. "This will probably be my most unique birthday of all time," said the to-be 27-year-old. "This is very, very special ... you can imagine what that means to me and the whole combination is really, really nice. "So hopefully I can enjoy the moment as much as I can. I hope I don't stumble when I walk into the stadium." Federer, though, admitted there was a down side to his immense popularity and said it was impossible to fully savour the Olympic experience by staying at the athletes' village. "I was there the other day and it's not possible really," he said. "I mean, I can't escape. There's so many athletes that want pictures. "I don't mind it but every day for I don't know how long, it's not the ideal preparation to try to win a gold medal. "I went through it in Sydney and in Athens. I had those great experiences. I know what the Olympic Games are all about. "And I have the option. I could go back to the Olympic village if I want to. But if I don't want to, I can get away from it all and really prepare in the appropriate way and that's what I'm trying to do this time around. "But I'm going there once in a while to see the other Swiss athletes and get the Olympic feel." Federer, who opens his gold medal quest against Russian Dimitry Tursunov on Sunday, said he also hoped to get out and about amongst fans to see some action other than tennis. "I would hope I could see some more sports," said the three-times Laureus World Sportstar of the Year. "In Sydney, I saw swimming and badminton. In Athens, for some crazy reason there was too much going on so I didn't get time to see any other sports. "But I'd like to maybe go see athletics or basketball, some other sports as well. To get a chance again is always very nice." Federer's fondest childhood memories of the Olympics are of watching sprinters Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson and of Marc Rosset winning the Olympic tennis gold medal for Switzerland at Barcelona 1992. But he conceded meeting his girlfriend and now manager, Slovakia-born former tour player Mirka Vavrinec, at the Sydney Olympics shaded carrying the Swiss flag in Athens as his most cherished Games moment. "I guess it was meeting the girlfriend because we've been together for eight years, whereas the flag was only there for 10 minutes," he joked. "So I'll pick 2000 as the best."
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