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Alice Yan

When China’s diving queen Quan Hongchan pulled out of a national competition due to injury recently, there was a tidal wave of interest on social media.
The event in question is the National Diving Championships, which are set to take place from May 24 to 30 in the city of Wuhan in China’s central Hubei province.
It is significant this year because it is the qualifier for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore in July.
Quan arrived in Wuhan as a member of the Guangdong provincial team.

However, her name did not appear in the contestants’ name list released by the Guangdong team on May 21, the Guangzhou Daily reported.
A spokesperson for the team said Quan would not be competing because of the recurrence of a previous injury, without elaborating.
“The injury is not serious, but she still needs treatment and rehabilitation. So she will not join the competition,” the spokesperson said.
Quan, 18, who has won three Olympic gold medals at the 10-metre platform, has an enormous fan base in China.
However, in recent months, her performance levels have dipped.

In early May, Quan lost to Chen Yuxi, her Team China rival at an event organised by World Aquatics (AQUA) in Beijing.
Quan said the setback was partly due to her gaining weight.
She told the state broadcaster CCTV in April that while her body is still developing, she has become much fatter than before.
Quan admitted she was trying to balance losing weight and maintaining her physical strength.
China’s media has reported that weight gain is not uncommon in Quan’s family. Her mother and three siblings are all chubby.
Her coach Chen Ruolin told Guangzhou Daily that Quan has been trying to adjust to her new physical situation by extending the length of her training to eight hours a day.
It is not the first time she has withdrawn from major events.
In 2022, she pulled out of the national championships because of a waist problem.

A year later, an ankle injury forced her to quit the qualifiers for the World Championships.
Last year, she stopped training because of a recurrence of the waist injury and was even hospitalised.
The latest news about China’s diving queen prompted much discussion on mainland social media, after the latest story about her fitness was viewed 43 million times on one social media platform alone.
“I will apply for a ticket refund because Sister Quan will not take part in the competition,” said one online observer.
Another person said: “I hope you will recover soon. Your health is the most important thing.”


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China diving queen Quan Hongchan trains 8 hours daily to overcome development challenges

China’s diving queen Quan Hongchan has begun training for eight hours a day to overcome developmental challenges that have forced her to pull out of a major event. Photo: SCMP composite/Sohu


Quan Hongchan pictured at the Paris Olympics. Her level of performance has dipped in recent times. Photo: Getty Images 

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Quan executes a supreme entry into the water at last year’s Olympics in Paris. Photo: Getty Images

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People & Culture

China Personalities

Her recent fitness story garnered 43 million views on a single social media platform


Her recent fitness story garnered 43 million views on a single social media platform.


Quan Hongchan

China diving queen Quan Hongchan trains 8 hours daily to overcome development challenges

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Her recent fitness story garnered 43 million views on a single social media platform

Her recent fitness story garnered 43 million views on a single social media platform