China's Olympic fencing champion, Zhong Man, does not like being compared to star hurdler Liu Xiang, whose accomplishments are seen as the bar for fellow Chinese athletes.

"I don't enjoy such comparisons," Zhong said. "I have a lot of respect for Liu who achieved something amazing through his hard efforts and he won glory for the nation. But comparisons with him make me feel that we need to keep up with what he did all the time.

"We are in different sports and it's difficult to compare. Just be yourself."

A comparison with Liu, arguably one of China's most successful athletes, has become a habit of fans and media in the recent years.

Zhang Lin, who won China's first men's swimming world title at the World Championships last month in Rome, is no exception as he was immediately dubbed the 'Liu Xiang of the swimming pool'.

Zhong, who won China's first men's fencing Olympic title, played down such hype.

"Zhang Lin is Zhang Lin. It is not appropriate to call him 'Liu Xiang in the swimming pool'.

"Just imagine calling our table tennis champions 'Liu Xiang holding a paddle'. It is just not right."