Source: CCTV.com

02-10-2008 14:16

In today's feature story, we'll take a closer look at Chinese legendary diving queen Guo Jingjing.

Chinese legendary diving queen Guo Jingjing.

The 26-year-old made her Olympic debut at the age of 15, and is likely to end her diving career after China's first ever Olympic Games in 2008.

After experiencing many ups and downs throughout her career, Guo Jingjing will hope to stage a fitting finale in 2008.

"Diving attracts me, just because I like it. I like the feeling of taking off from the board, and plunging into the water. Because this is what I'm good at. I felt that somersaulting is the only thing I can do. "

For someone who says somersaulting is the only thing she can do, Guo Jingjing has made a pretty successful career out of it.

Diving has been Guo's specialty for 18 years, transforming her from an innocent girl into a sports super star.

She doesn't get bored with the training, but instead, she loves the springboard and is clearly never happier than when plunging into the water.

Audiences may be most familiar with her triumphs on the 3-meter springboard. But it's her failures that Guo Jingjing has turned into a certain kind of confidence.

Guo Jingjing, Diving World Champion, said, "I'm not afraid to lose. Because I have experienced it before. So what if you lost? I'm still Guo Jingjing even I lost. I won't become anybody else. Even I did win, I'm also still Guo Jingjing. There are always wins and losses during competition. I'm not some fairy goddess. It's normal to lose. Why should I be afraid of failure? If you start to be afraid about something, you will never succeed. You want to win? You can never be afraid."