Zhanjiang divers claim international gold medals

Wu Chunting, a 19-year-old diver from Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, claimed three gold medals during the International Swimming Federation (FINA) Diving Grand Prix 2016 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the third stop for the competition, from March 31 to April 4.

During the event, Wu won the first prizes for the women's springboard three meters final, scoring 325.18 and for the mixed synchronized three meters final with her teammate, Huang Bowen, scoring 304.38.

Meanwhile, Wu claimed gold at the women's synchronized springboard three meters final with her teammate Xu Zhihuan with a score of 309.60, 21 points clear of second place.

Statistics from the city government show that Zhanjiang athletes have earned seven gold medals during the international diving event during its first stop in Madrid, Spain and second stop in Rostock, Germany.

The coastal city of Zhanjiang has often been mentioned as a "cradle of world-class diving athletes" in China. It has nurtured dozens of divers who have won international awards, such as the 2004 Athens Olympics women's synchronized ten meters final gold medalist, Lao Lishi, and the 2008 Beijing Olympics men's springboard gold medal winner, He Chong.

Leader of the Zhanjiang diving team, Chen Huaming, attributed the city's diving strength to its good inheritance. After missing out on all of the gold medals up for grabs at a provincial event in 1986, the city began to attach a greater importance to diving, he said.

In 2013, Zhanjiang established its first diving training school, in a bid to spread its diving tradition far and wide.

Wu is one of the divers that the Zhanjiang government crowned as a new star for China's diving lineup. She surprisingly won six gold medals at the FINA Diving Grand Prix 2015.

The fourth stop of the FINA Diving Grand Prix 2016 will kick off in Gatineau, Canada, from April 7 to 10.

Wu Chunting, a 19-year-old diver from Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, claimed three gold medals during the FINA Diving Grand Prix 2016 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from March 31 to April 4. [Photo/yinsha.com]

Zhanjiang-born Wu Chunting (R) and Xu Zhihuan won the bronze medal at the women's synchronized three meters final of the National Games in 2013. [Photo/yinsha.com]