When Zhang Lin received the torch for the Guangzhou Asian Games from President Hu Jintao, he not only became the first torchbearer in the relay, the media also named him the new leader of China's young athletes.

Just two years ago, it was star hurdler Liu Xiang, who claimed that spot when he was given the Beijing Olympic Games torch by President Hu.

At the time, Liu was the new sports star, having conquered the Athens Olympic men's 110m hurdles to become world champion and world record holder. His sensational victory made him the biggest sports hero in the country, but it was, unfortunately, all too short-lived.

Liu Xiang's legend dissipated when he had to withdraw from the Beijing Games after a foot injury condemned him to a long, painful rehabilitation.

Then Zhang emerged. His silver medal from the men's 400m freestyle swimming event during the Beijing Olympics was a breakthrough for China's male swimmers.

He proved that it was no accident a year later at the World Championships in Rome, when he became China's first male world champion by claiming the 800m gold and demolishing the world record set by Australian great Grant Hackett, his idol.

He has been called "Liu Xiang in water" but the 23-year-old Zhang objects to that title.

"I'm still myself," says the young Beijinger. "In swimming, there is only 'Zhang Lin in water'."

He does not consider himself as the "new leader" of anything either.

"I don't know how people define the term. All I want now is to show my real power in competition," he says.

With his slim and fit physique and sunshine smile, Zhang is now a media darling, with frequent appearances on television and in print and more invitations for fashion photo shoots and promotional offers then he cares to handle. That is why he has signed an agency to take care of these activities.

For him, the main task ahead is to prepare for the London 2012 Olympic Games, and to that end, he is training with Dennis Cotterell, Grant Hackett's legendary coach. To prepare for the Guangzhou Asian Games, Zhang trained hard with the Aussie coach from July.

The Guangzhou Games will offer Zhang another chance to shine on the rostrum and he will again be meeting his archrival, Park Tae-hwan of South Korea. At the Doha Asian Games four years ago, Park was ahead of Zhang in the men's 1,500m freestyle by more than eight seconds. At the Beijing Olympic Games two years later, Park again pipped him to the post by 0.58 seconds to claim the gold for the 400m event.

In Guangzhou, the two top Asian swimmers will meet in the 200m, 400m, 1,500m events and the 4x200m relay.

"My goal is the gold medal and my biggest rival is Park," Zhang says in a promotion video for the Asian Games, but the young swimmer knows the highest hurdle is much nearer home.

"My biggest opponent is myself. I don't want to think about others too much. What I hope to do is to improve my results."