"They remind me that I was young and made the same kind of mistakes too at their age!"
As a tradition, top level divers give a lesson to local kids just before the World Aquatics Diving World Cup 2024 Super Final in Xi’an, China. This time, the Chinese lovable Olympic champions Quan Hongchan and Wang Hongyuan became the coaches.
One day before the Diving World Cup 2024 Super Final from April 19-21, Quan, who shocked the worlds with a record-high score to win the women's 10m platform champion in Tokyo Olympic Games, helped a group of 20 young divers finding their way to perfect dives.
"It is a good way to promote diving to the kids like this. There are many young divers in China and we have two national diving competitions for the kids every year. I was one of them and learned a lot from the elder divers,"Quan said.
Wang Zongyuan, synchro champion in Tokyo Olympic Games and men's 3m springboard world champion, said he would love to teach more kids in the future.
"Our sport of diving is a big family. The kids clinic is always going together with the World Cups and spread the seeds of love over all the world. It is my pleasure to be a part of it and do something as much as I can do," said the 22-year old.
For the young kids, they are excited to follow their idols’ instruction. “I will remember the day that I was taught by Quan Hongchan for once! She is my idol and I hope I can be an Olympic champion when I grow up.”