The long-suspected relationship between Tian Liang, China's world diving champ, and Ye Yiqian, one of the 2005 top ten Super Girl idols, was confirmed by their agents on October 19, wrote the Beijing News on October 20.

Tian Liang and Ye Yiqian smile in this undated photo. [Sohu]

The confirmation came after Ye posted that her "love story was coming up" on her blog on October 18.

"The pair had a hard time when their love affair was in the spotlight earlier this year, and a little while ago, Ye was nursing Tian when he suffered from a serious heart disease," Huang, Ye's broker, told the Beijing News in a telephone interview.

Tian's agent said that previous reports that Tian bought a luxurious villa for Ye's parents in Beijing were false, and that it was Ye who paid the bill.

The two share the same star sign and are the most controversial celebrities in their circles.

Ye Yiqian poses for a men's magazine. [Sina]

Tian, crowned 'diving prince' of both the Sydney and Athens Olympic Games, once was lopped from the national squad in 2005 for taking part in too many commercial activities.

Ye was not only superb in her vocal performance but was also chosen as one of the top 10 news makers in her hometown of Nanping, east China's Fujian Province.

Currently the duo have no further comment on their relationship.