Chinese diver Chen half fulfilling her Olympic dream

  2008-08-12 13:43:54 GMT    2008-08-12 21:43:54 (Beijing Time)    Xinhua

  BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- In front of cheers, flowers and applauds of fans, newly-crowned Chinese diver Chen Ruolin seemed never overjoyed with her long-dreamed Olympic gold.

  "I never care about the results before and during the games. When I step down the podium, I won't think any more about my achievements," said the 16-year-old girl after being awarded 3m springboard synchro gold.

  "There is still a long way ago," she said in a placid tone, unlike her age.

  To pocket two gold medals on home soil seems to be the only thing Chen cares about in her Olympic debut.

  With Tuesday's clean victory with synchro partner Wang Xin, she still dreams another gold in individual event which falls on next Thursday.

  In fact, the teenager had undergone a very rough road before seizing glory at home Olympics.

  Born on Dec. 12, 1992, in eastern China's Jiangsu Province, Chen took up diving at four just for the sake of building up her strength.

  However, her tutor was amazed to found her the best "water dog" he had ever seen, and afterwards started systematic training of her.

  Chen was so ecstatic with diving that she even dreamed of her fellows who dived better than herself.

  Getting over all kinds of difficulties and injuries including an arm fracture at the age of six, Chen mounted to the top of a series of youth games and national championships.

  Her excellent performances also attracted attention from national team manager Zhou Jihong, who recruited Chen into the Chinese "Dream Team" at 12.

  Her national team coach Ren Shaofen described her as being "talented" and "hard-working" and having "excellent state of mind".

  At her international debut at the Doha Asian Games, then 13-year-old Chen grabbed 10m platform gold with her synchronized pair Jia Tong, making herself the youngest gold medalist of the Games.

  In the following two years, Chen, regarded as an "emerging star", defended her 10m platform title at the 2006 FINA Diving World Cup and the 2007 Melbourne World Championships, becoming the youngest champion of the Chinese team.

  At the 2008 World Cup in Beijing, Chen pocketed both 10m platform individual and synchronized gold medals by gaining three 10's and four 10's for her nearly-flawless second and final dives.

  To make best preparations for the Olympics, Chen even gave up her favorite snacks and strengthened intensity of training in a bid to control weight.

  After she secured gold on Tuesday, she phoned at once her parents and grandparents in her hometown Nantong City of Jiangsu, sharing with them the hard-won glory.

  As current world No.1 at the women's 10m platform diving, the teenage girl is laid great expectations for gold rush in Beijing Olympics, together with her teammates.

  She is sparing no efforts to win back 10m platform gold with Wang Xin next week, which China lost at the previous two Olympics following the retirement of Fu Mingxia.