Chinese Divers Aim For Clean Sweep

They are led by four-time Olympic champ Cao, who's adept at springboard, platform

- David Lee

At Paris 2024, China rammed home their diving dominance by becoming the first nation to win all eight gold medals at the Olympics.

When the diving competition for the World Aquatics Championships (WCH) kicks off at the OCBC Aquatic Centre on July 26, China's Dream Team will once again look to sweep all 13 gold medals on offer, like they did in 2022.

Fans will be disappointed not to catch three-gold Olympic champion Quan Hongchan in action—the 18-year-old 10m platform prodigy is nursing an ankle injury—while Paris 2024 springboard gold medallists Xie Siyi and Chang Yani are also missing, though there will be no lack of stardust.

Leading the way for China is stalwart Cao Yuan, a rare talent like compatriot Fu Mingxia and American Greg Louganis, who were equally outstanding in springboard and platform events.

Since London 2012, Cao has stood atop the podium at four consecutive Olympics and helped China complete the sweep in Paris.

In an interview with Chinese media, the 30-year-old, who will compete in the men's 3m springboard and mixed 3m & 10m team events in Singapore, said: "It confuses me—am I a platform or springboard diver? Sometimes, I don't even know.

"The platform is fixed, and I just have to do my best to complete my diving elements, whereas the springboard is moving and I have to find its rhythm and be one with the board in order to do well.