Mr. Furlong, of Oregon, is hoping for more recognition of the skill back home in the U.S. "If they saw it in the Olympics on TV, and it was advertised more, I think people would see it is a good sport, and that it's not something to be laughed at, " he said.

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But only one has the standing to answer, "Oh, I think it would be nice to move to New York and run for the Senate" and not be laughed at.

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For 30 days, each morning I would walk through the city, stopping to buy my baguette and coffee, pretending to be offended when the waiter laughed as my grim attempt at French was replaced by sign language.

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His friends laughed at his sure-to-be-housed investment.

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" On another occasion, she laughed at her captors' plans only to be told "You're a rubbish hostage.

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People laugh at me when I say that, but they laughed at me when I said I wanted to be singer, and I'm a singer now.

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But Martinez laughed at the suggestion that Benitez might be persuaded to send Liverpool captain and star England midfielder Steven Gerrard to the Liberty Stadium as well.

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She refused to be drawn on whether she would compete at the Rio Games in four years time but laughed off talk of a possible retirement.

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