Chen Aisen: The "Dance" of the Final Chapter—Ending with No Regrets

Jump, somersault, twist, and splash into the water. The splash is barely audible—just a gentle ripple—while applause erupts like a roaring tide.

In the men's synchronized 10m platform final at the 15th National Games on the evening of the 7th, veteran Chen Aisen from Guangdong, competing in his fifth National Games, delivered a difficult 3.6-degree dive—the 5255B—marking what he called his "final dance" on the National Games stage.

After finishing the event, Chen Aisen raised his hands, wrapped in white bandages, and then bowed deeply toward the audience. "This is my curtain call," Chen Aisen said.

Chen Aisen, born in 1995, recently celebrated his 30th birthday and has now entered his thirties. He candidly shared: "Compared to previous National Games, this time I feel it’s been tougher—first, because of my age, and second, because my recovery period was shorter, making the challenges I’m facing particularly demanding."

Flash back to the 2016 Rio Olympics. It was there that Chen Aisen, making his Olympic debut, clinched consecutive gold medals in the men’s synchronized 10m platform and the men’s individual 10m platform, becoming the first athlete in Olympic history to win both the individual and synchronized golds on the men’s diving platform.

At the Tokyo Olympics, Chen Aisen competed only in the men’s synchronized 10-meter platform event. However, his partner Cao Yuan made a mistake on their fourth dive, ultimately leaving them to settle for a silver medal—a result that left both athletes deeply disappointed. As Cao Yuan, overwhelmed with guilt, immediately apologized, saying, "I'm sorry, Sen Ge," Chen Aisen gently patted him on the shoulder and calmly replied, "That’s just part of the game."

Do your best and face wins and losses with a smile. Today, he’s back on the National Games stage—not to prove himself, but for the sake of his team and the legacy he carries forward.

Looking back at the men's team event in diving—the first competition of the Games—Chen Aisen said: "The pressure was immense, and Hubei's team launched a fierce attack. Thankfully, we managed to hold on through the final hurdle."

Chen Aisen referred to the "final hurdle" as the men's team 10m platform synchronized event. Teaming up with Zhu Zifeng in a "veteran-meets-youngster" partnership, they successfully handled the pressure, clinching first place in the event and helping the Guangdong team secure their eighth consecutive National Games title in men's diving team competition.

"The Guangdong men's team has never lost before—so for this competition, I actually feel even more nervous than I did at the Olympics," Chen Aisen said with a half-joking tone during the post-match interview.

On the evening of the 7th, as Chen Aisen and Zhu Zifeng once again teamed up to compete in the men’s synchronized 10m platform event, Chen’s expression was notably serious and determined. At that moment, all he could think about was "simply enjoying his final competition."

After six rounds of the final, despite finishing in second place, Chen Aisen surprisingly wore a relaxed smile. This time, having secured the silver medal, he confidently declared, "I have no regrets."

At the award ceremony, Chen Aisen, along with Zhu Zifeng and their coach, bounced joyfully onto the podium. Chen raised his right fist high in the air, beaming at the audience with a big smile. "There wasn’t much pressure today—mostly, I just wanted to enjoy the competition and soak in the amazing atmosphere, which was absolutely fantastic."

During the post-match summary, Chen Aisen first congratulated the Shaanxi team duo—who had just clinched the gold—and his former national team partner, Yang Hao. He then praised Zhu Zifeng, saying, "My performance today was average, but Zhu Zifeng really handled the pressure exceptionally well. I’m thrilled to see him deliver such a strong showing. I hope he can continue to refine his own style and showcase his true potential in future competitions."

In Zhu Zifeng's eyes, his senior teammate Chen Aisen is "very humorous" and "extremely supportive," always showing deep care for the younger diving athletes. "I’ve also inherited the spirit of my predecessors—after all, it’s because of them that I’m here today. I truly hope our younger generation will carry on this same inspiring legacy," Chen Aisen said.

From the young athlete who first stepped onto the National Games stage at 14, to the veteran competing in his fifth Games, Chen Aisen says this will be his last time participating in the event. Looking back on his journey, he reflects: "I feel my diving career has been absolutely amazing, incredibly joyful, perfectly fulfilling, and deeply satisfying. I’ve learned so much within the diving team and met countless people—many of whom have supported me immensely along the way. They’ve become an inseparable part of my growth and development."

Perhaps that’s exactly why, when asked if he was considering retirement, Chen Aisen replied: "Normally speaking, it’s definitely time to retire. But if the country needs me, I’d certainly jump right back into training and compete again without hesitation."