National Games | Diving Final Day: Chen Yiwen Wins Bronze Despite Mistake, Lian Junjie Returns with a Perfect Finish

The diving competition of the 15th National Games concluded on the 11th, with Olympic double-gold medalist Chen Yiwen narrowly missing out on gold in the women’s 3m springboard final, settling for bronze. The gold medal was claimed by Lin Shan, also from Guangdong. Meanwhile, Olympic champion Lian Junjie from Shandong dominated the men’s 10m platform event, clinching his second gold medal of the Games.

On November 11, Guangdong team athletes Lin Shan (left) and Chen Yiwen pose after the competition. Xinhua News Agency reporter Xiao Yijiu photographed the scene.

In the women's 3m springboard final, Lin Shan, the reigning National Games women's all-around champion, delivered a stellar performance, scoring over 80 points on both of her final two dives to surprisingly claim the gold medal. "This victory is a testament to my years of dedicated training and preparation," said Lin Shan. Meanwhile, Rio Olympics "Grand Slam" winner Chen Yiwen stumbled on her second dive but managed to recover quickly—though her late adjustments weren’t enough to secure more than a bronze medal. Chen Jia, the Sichuan athlete who teamed up with Chen Yiwen to win the synchronized event gold at this year’s World Championships in Singapore, finished with the silver medal.

As a two-time champion at the Paris Olympics, Chen Yiwen admitted after the competition that her mistake was due to nerves from competing on home soil. "But after my fourth dive, I felt confident that Lin Shan would secure the gold medal for the Guangdong team, so I relaxed—and in the end, I managed to perform to my full potential on the final dive."

The men's 10m platform event featured fierce competition. After three rounds—preliminaries, semifinals, and the final—Lian Junjie completed 18 dives in quick succession over the course of a single day. In his final dive, he broke through the 100-point mark to clinch the gold medal. Meanwhile, Cao Yuan, an Olympic "veteran of four Games," secured the silver for the Beijing team, while 14-year-old Zhao Renjie from the Shaanxi team claimed the bronze.

On November 11, Shandong team athlete Lian Junjie competes in the event. Xinhua News Agency reporter Xiao Yijiu photographed the scene.

Last year, Lian Junjie, partnering with Yang Hao, clinched the gold medal in the men’s 10m platform synchronized event at the Paris Olympics—only to suffer a shoulder injury shortly after. After recovering from the injury and making his highly anticipated return to competition, Lian competed in multiple events at the National Games, including the men’s team event, individual all-around, and the 10m platform, ultimately winning two gold medals: one in the individual all-around and another in the 10m platform.

In the men's 10-meter platform event, Lian Junjie finished third at the 2017 Tianjin National Games and took second place at the 2021 Shaanxi National Games—this time, he finally clinched the gold medal. "With so many events and such a demanding compulsory routine, I felt this was an enormous challenge," he said. "Winning the gold medal this time has given me a huge boost of confidence. Looking back on the competition, I’m incredibly grateful that I never gave up on myself."

“Throughout my diving career, I’ve always been ‘the one climbing the mountain’—constantly pushing forward and striving to reach new heights,” said Lian Junjie, who celebrated his 25th birthday earlier this month at the National Games. “My ultimate goal is Los Angeles (the Olympics), but there’s still plenty of room for improvement as I work to solidify my skills.”

On November 11, Shandong team athlete Lian Junjie (left), who won the championship, poses with his coach at the award ceremony. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Tang Yi.

Diving is an event where the Chinese team holds an absolute edge on the international stage. The National Games competition left many spectators thoroughly thrilled, with one remarking, "It felt like watching an Olympic-level event—even at the price of a National Games ticket!"

In the diving events of this year's National Games, Guangdong team claimed 6 gold medals, thanks to its roster of multiple Olympic champions, while Shanghai, Hubei, and Shandong each won two golds. Shanxi and Shaanxi secured one gold medal apiece.

Source: Xinhua News Agency