We’ve seen American swimmers such as Michael Phelps and Tyler Clary dabble in land-based sports, but other aquatic athletes around the world are also apt at activities that don’t involve getting wet. With Phelps just completing his stint as part of the celebrity match of the Ryder cup and Clary making his move in the world of race car driving, 2015 World Champion Ning Zetao of China is rubbing elbows with a legend in the game of billiards.
While spending time in China for the China Open, 14-time tennis Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal took a short break to play a quick game with Zetao, the 23-year-old Zhengzhou, Henan native who took the gold in the men’s 100m freestyle last year in Kazan. Although Nadal came away with two golds at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, his pool game partner wasn’t as fortunate. Despite wearing the world championship crown, Zetao failed to make the 100m freestyle final, finishing 12th overall after prelims.
At the China Open, 30-year-old Nadal has moved on to the quarterfinals, facing Bulgarian Girgor Dimitrov.
From the looks of the video, neither athlete will be giving up his primary sport anytime soon.
https://twitter.com/RafanaticsPH/status/782465508931088384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Ning is just beautiful!
* Grigor