Chen Roulin: Queen of the platform

Dubai: You know from the moment you speak to her that the pretty Chen Ruolin is a classic product of the Chinese training programme. One look at the all-conquering platform diver’s record and you may begin to understand why most Chinese sportspersons are fiercely protective of the system that churns out champions by the hundreds.

Of course, there will be the odd instance of someone like tennis star Li Na, who keeps a big portion of the spoils to herself and is not bound by the dictats of the Chinese sports federations. On the other hand, there will also be instances like that of Chen’s compatriot Wu Minxia.

Wu’s parents decided to hold back news of the death of both her grandparents and of her mother’s long battle with breast cancer until after she won the 3-metre springboard in London so as to not interfere with her diving career!

But Chen is pretty clear about that. “I think the gold medals for your country are worth all the pain,” the World and Olympic 10m platform champion told XPRESS.

“I agree that the training regimen is very strict and there’s a lot of agony involved, but when you get good results, everything is worth it.”

Chen, though, refused to divulge the secret behind China’s incredible success in diving. “There’s no secret, honest. All we do is train hard, that is the secret. Ok…ok…I know other countries train hard too, but if you train as hard as we do, you can win gold. It’s easy if you strive towards it,” the 20-year-old said.

Understandably, despite her gold at the London Olympics, Chen has other favourite moments. “I would say the gold I won at the 2008 Beijing Olympics ranks at the top followed by the gold at the Shanghai world championship in 2011,” she said.

This is Chen’s second visit to Dubai and she is as excited as a newcomer. “This city is very beautiful. It’s so fashionable and modern. It’s a great place to shop. As for the diving facility, I can only say that it’s like a dream, there is something other worldly in its appearance,” she said.

So, having won everything there is to win what is left for her?

“I want to win my third Olympic gold in Rio in 2016. That would be my third and a nice milestone,” she said.

Bubble

Chen is the first Chinese female diver to claim all the gold medals in women’s platform events in Olympic Games, World Cup and World Championships