Beyond the Spotlight: Story of China's youngest three-gold Olympic medalist Quan Hongchan

(ECNS)-- The 17-year-old Chinese diver Quan Hongchan, the youngest domestic athlete to win three Olympic gold medals, secured two golds in the women's 10m platform final and women's synchronized 10m platform final at the Paris 2024 Olympics and one gold in the women's 10m platform final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

However, she faced criticism even achieving a big success.

Recently, during live streaming interview, a reporter questioned whether Quan would "live like an idiot" after retiring from diving. Many netizens interpreted this as an insult. As a young athlete, Quan remained silent.

In addition to such criticism, Quan has also endured physical challenges that come with her intense training.

Since the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Quan has added nearly 10 centimeters in height, and her weight has correspondingly increased. To address the challenge brought by growth, She repeatedly struggled with a 207C dive, a high-difficulty move, which has caused her considerable stress.

To master the 207C, Quan gave up snacks and trained intensely to counteract the effects of physical development, practicing over and over again until she finally conquered this difficult move.

During competitions, Quan employed some psychological adjustment methods. For example, she took deep breaths to relieve pressure, focusing more on competitions to deliver her best performance.

In an interview, a reporter said that some people labeled her as a "prodigy." Quan replied, "I'm not a prodigy. It's all about practicing over and over again, and it's been tough along the way."

Besides her personal effort, a positive family environment also provided her with immense support.

Quan's hometown is a small village called Maihe in Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, where her family mainly relied on growing fruit for a living. With many children in the family and meager profits from farming, they lived in poverty.

Quan's outstanding performance at the Tokyo Olympics allowed her to earn money to pay for her mother’s and grandfather’s medical treatments. Today, she sends thousands of yuan home each month to support her family’s living expenses.

Quan's brother, Quan Jinhua, switched his career to become a live streamer. Many people thought he might capitalize on his sister's fame for financial gain, however, Quan responded that as his younger sister, she is not a resource for him to make money.

Quan has not been home for a long time due to training. Her mother said in an interview, "She is not only a child of mine but also of our nation. We are very happy to see her striving for the motherland."

Mutual understanding and support between her family members provide unparalleled emotional comfort, allowing Quan to remain composed no matter where she is.

Quan is only 17 this year, with her future holding limitless possibilities.

"Chase your dreams if you have them. Don’t fear failure!" Quan encourages people with diving dreams.