How Qi Yuwu Is The Most “Normal” Looking Celeb In Swim-Themed Ep Of The Star Athlete

Yes, he’s really fit (our words, not his), and yes, tongues have been wagging over Qi Yuwu’s appearance on a recent episode of new Mediacorp sport-themed variety show The Star Athlete. 

But seriously, Yuwu does not get why it’s such a big deal, ‘cos he was not there to show off his hot bod. As he shared in a phone interview with 8days.sg, the 46-year-old was just there to do his best, and learn more about swimming.

In The Star Athlete, a rotating cast of local celebs joins two teams — one led by Yuwu, and the other by Lee Teng — to learn more about various sports under the guidance of local athletes, and duke it out for bragging rights.

On a recent swimming-themed episode, national athletes Pang Sheng Jun, Quah Ting Wen and Quah Jing Wen were joined by Lee Teng, Yuwu, Jeremy Chan, Jaspers Lai, Hazelle Teo, Regene Lim, Ye Jia Yun and Jernelle Oh.

As the celebs filed out to take their places, there was just one thing that caught our eye — why was everyone so covered up?

Yuwu was the only celeb who, well, dressed like a regular swimmer, baring his chest, while the other male celebs opted for a long-sleeved rashguard. The ladies were very modestly dressed too, perhaps they were afraid of getting a tan? 

Yuwu tells us that the swimwear was provided by the production crew. However, celebs were given the freedom to choose what they wanted to wear.

"They did say that if you're able to wear it, then you [should] wear it,” Yuwu said, adding that he chose to go without a top, since he usually doesn’t wear one when he swims. 

"Once you get into the pool, the shirt will start sticking to your body ‘cos of the water, and I don't find it very comfortable. I don't really like the feeling,” he said.

The full episode is embedded below.

"Some might think that I'm showing off my body, but I'm really not. To be honest, it's not like my physique is that good either,” he tells 8days.sg self-deprecatingly, before laughingly adding: "On the contrary, it feels like the other males… aren’t too open-minded”.

“Of course, I'll respect their decision to wear [a shirt], after all, the production crew did provide shirts. I think it's fine [to go without one as well], as the national swimmers didn't wear a top either. Even at the beach, people don't wear a shirt. It feels like we're debating why such a normal thing is normal. It's just normal, [there's no reason for it],” he said.

So there you have it. If you must focus on his physique, 8days.sg believes the Guangzhou Physical Education Institute graduate would really like it if you continued watching The Star Athlete, ‘cos he says he really enjoyed filming the show.

One other thing Yuwu would like everyone to support — the Van Gogh exhibition that he’s really passionate about. 

The actor and his wife, actress Joanne Peh, 39, are the celeb ambassadors for the Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience exhibition, which allows visitors to quite literally step into the world of artist Vincent van Gogh’s works.

The actor, who led a group of about 30 elderly visitors through the exhibition the day before we spoke to him, shared that it was very rewarding, and that he was “honoured” to be able to guide them through it.

“For this exhibition, they don't have any original Van Gogh paintings, but I think it feels very powerful. It’s a multi-sensory experience that engages even your sense of smell, 'cos you can smell the fragrance of flowers [when you step into certain areas],” he said.

Yuwu went on to share that he first became more interested in art about 10 years ago, after he had the opportunity to speak with a couple of Chinese artists, and realised that he likes viewing art, and thinking about what the artist wishes to express through their work.

“I realised that regardless of whether they're painters or sculptors, it's the same as acting, it's just that the way we express ourselves is different. Acting is also a form of art, it’s a way of expression. But of course, as an actor, I do so through my performance, it's a form of performance art. I won’t call myself an artist, though. I think that label is something that’s too big for me,” he mused humbly.

“But I’ve come to realise that art is pretty accessible to everyone. It’d be good if the general public, be they young or old, can interact more with art. I hope to be a bridge, to let those who might be scared to interact with art, or who might not have the opportunity to do so, come into contact with art,” he said.

Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience will run from Mar 1 to Oct 1 at Resorts World Sentosa, B1 Forum. Tickets are priced from $15 (children) and $24 (adults).Click here to find out more.

You can watch the first three episodes of The Star Athlete here on meWATCH. To find out more about what the celebs thought about their swimming endeavours, watch the #JustSwipeLah video below.

Photos: meWATCH, Qi Yuwu/Instagram