Life of Guangzhou - Cantonese Diver to Display Talentin the 3-metre Springboard

He Chong's migrant-worker parents were offered a primary school tuition waiver by a Guangdong province scout and they willingly accepted it. Whilst some mainland children enter the world of professional sports for perceived health benefits or the simple ambition to win, for others it is economics.

He Chong’s parents felt that the financial strains of raising three children in urban Zhanjiang topped any concern over the wear and tear of diving practice. Whilst it was an endeavour they knew very little about, it was not a reckless decision at all. At the age of 21, he looks set to play a key role in keeping China's diving juggernaut on track at the Beijing Olympics. He may only have one major title under his belt but He Chong is widely considered the pick of the 3-metre springboard hopefuls.

At the 2005 and 2007 World Championships, his teammates Qin Kai and Canadian ace Alexandre Despatie dominated. However, at the Diving World Cup in February at the Water Cube in Beijing, He Chong stole the show leaving his opponents floundering.

The Canadian diving team director, Mitch Geller feels that He Chong is way above the competition but there are chinks in his armour too.

"The springboard competition has increasingly become a power game because of the sheer exclusiveness it demands on one's lower limbs to produce a better take-off, that is the basis of a good, maneuver-packed dive," said Geller.

"He Chong is the most powerful amongst the event's front runners hence he often stuns the world with his gravity-defying yet sometimes mind-boggling moves", Geller said. He Chong’s is popular for his forward two-and-a-half somersaults with 3 twists pike and a dive which only he is capable of pulling of extremely well.

"If he continues this in the six rounds in the final, I don't think anybody can beat him," Geller added. "Yet consistency seems to be a problem for him as Qin and Alexandre possess an edge through their smoother style", said Geller.

This inconsistency may be a problem for some but with his buoyant character which is a stark contrast to many reclusive Chinese divers, He Chong appears well prepared to handle the pressure.

"The older Chinese generation concentrated totally on the competition but the new batch of boys come off as more open-minded and talkative, especially He Chong ", said Tobias Schellenberg. Schellenberg, is a thirty –year old German who was the silver medalist in the men's 3- metre springboard synchronized at the Athens Games.

Arch rival Despatie, simply declared during the Water Cube test that, "He Chong is a brother".

Profiles

Name: He Chong
Date of Birth: October 6, 1987
Place of Birth: Zhanjiang, GD
Entry for Beijing Games: Men's 3m springboard synchronized and 3m springboard individual
Main Rivals: Qin Kai (China), Alexandre Despatie (Canada), Yahel Castillo (Mexico)

(by Mo Cuiwen)

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