Shandong and Hunan Win Gold at National Diving Championships
GUANGZHOU — Shandong’s Tai Xiaohu and Hunan’s Qu Zhixin each captured gold medals on the sixth day of the 2026 National Diving Championships on May 28, as both non-Olympic events showcased China’s depth in diving talent. The competition, held at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center Aquatics Center in Guangzhou, featured the Men’s 1m Springboard and Women’s Individual All-Around finals.
According to China News Service, both events are non-Olympic disciplines designed to “provide more athletes with opportunities to showcase comprehensive abilities and further strengthen China’s diving talent reserve.”
Men’s 1m Springboard: Tai Xiaohu Delivers Steady Performance
In the morning session, Tai Xiaohu of Shandong Zhouke delivered a composed performance in the Men’s 1m Springboard final, scoring 440.75 points to claim the gold medal. Liu Hao of Shaanxi took silver, while Hu Yukang of Guangdong Haiyin earned bronze on home turf.
The 1m springboard event, while not part of the Olympic program, serves as an important platform for divers to refine technical precision and competitive composure under pressure. Tai’s score of 440.75 reflected a consistent and technically sound performance across all dives.
Women’s Individual All-Around: Qu Zhixin Dominates with Commanding Victory
The afternoon’s Women’s Individual All-Around final proved to be the highlight of the day. The event tests athletes across multiple disciplines, requiring competitors to complete a full set of both springboard and platform dives. Qu Zhixin of Hunan Liangang delivered an outstanding performance, amassing 667.15 points to win gold by a commanding margin of 32.2 points over silver medalist Liu Xingyu of Anhui Haosha. Wu Xihan of Jiangxi claimed bronze.
Qu Zhixin, a 21-year-old from Hengyang County in Hunan Province, has followed a classic trajectory through China’s elite athlete development system. She began diving at age five at the Hengyang Swimming Sports School, was sent to the provincial team at age eight, became a professional provincial athlete at 11, and was selected for the national team training camp in 2024.
As reported by the Hengyang Municipal Government, Qu also competed in the Women’s 3m Springboard on Day 5, where she earned a bronze medal alongside star diver Chen Yiwen. Across the championships, she participated in three events: the Women’s All-Around, Women’s 3m Springboard, and Mixed Synchro 3m Springboard.
Following her victory, Qu Zhixin expressed her ambitions for the future. “I will continue to train deeply, refine my technique, and go all out to compete in higher-level events, striving to stand on the world stage and win glory for the country,” she said.
Her first coach, Chen Yunlong, Vice Principal of the Hengyang Swimming Sports School, offered words of encouragement: “Maintain your form, keep breaking through, and continue to reach new heights in future high-level competitions.”
Her victory margin of 32.2 points — the largest of any event on Day 6 — underscores her potential as a rising force in Chinese diving. The women’s all-around competition requires athletes to complete five platform dives and five springboard dives in succession, testing not only technical versatility but also endurance and mental fortitude.
Broader Context: China’s Diving Pipeline on Display
The 2026 National Diving Championships, officially named the “Guangqing Holding Group Cup,” run from May 23 to 29 and feature 17 gold medals across various disciplines. The inclusion of non-Olympic events highlights China’s systematic approach to talent identification and development beyond the standard Olympic program.
Notably, Olympic gold medalist Quan Hongchan was absent from this year’s championships due to injury recovery, as confirmed by the Guangdong Ersha Sports Training Center in late April. Her absence opened opportunities for emerging athletes like Qu Zhixin to step into the spotlight.
The championships conclude on May 29 with the Women’s 1m Springboard final in the morning and the Men’s Individual All-Around final in the afternoon.
Reporting contributed by China News Service, People Daily, and New Express.