Advertisement

Paris Olympics: Quan Hongchan showered with dolls, nod to family’s humble beginnings

  • Her double golds in Paris entrenched her as China’s ‘diving darling’ and a global phenomenon

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
China’s diving queen Quan Hongchan has inspired fans as much for her story outside the pool as for her talents on a board. Photo: Xinhua

Fans showered Quan Hongchan with dolls to show China’s three-time Olympic gold medallist how much her story has touched them.

Advertisement

Since striking her first Olympic title in Tokyo three years ago, Quan has been catapulted into the international limelight, and her double golds in Paris entrenched her as China’s “diving darling” and a global phenomenon.

But it is the 17-year-old’s charm and her family’s humble beginnings that have truly won the hearts of millions.

As she paraded through her victory lap after clinching gold in the 10 metres platform final, fans showered Quan with stuffed toys.

She loved dolls from a young age but, aware of her family’s financial struggles, maturely avoided the subject.

“Other kids could buy snacks, her mother Feng Lingmei said. “[They] had everything.

Advertisement