Behind Chen Yiwen's victory, the friendship between the three girls shows the warm side of the arena
2024-08-10
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Shouting "1, 2, 3", Guangdong star Chen Yiwen jumped onto the champion podium of the women's three-meter springboard in the Paris Olympics, raised her hands high, and posed like a king to welcome the cheers of the audience. Silver medalist Australian athlete Gini and bronze medalist Chang Yani raised their hands diagonally on both sides, making a "grand recommendation" gesture in coordination, and the three smiled at each other. This scene was funny and warm, and the friendship behind the three girls was also touching.
Chen Yiwen, Chang Yani and Gini have been friends for many years. Gini, now 28 years old, is also a "veteran" of the diving team. She met Chang Yani eight years ago. Later, Chen Yiwen joined the national team. In the 2017 World Championships, she was introduced by Chang Yani and met Gini. Chen Yiwen's English is very good, so she naturally became the first contact person between Gini and even the Australian diving team and the Chinese diving team. The three of them also became good friends. Gini once said in an interview that Chen Yiwen is her best friend. "She has a very good personality and is very cute. She always brings a lot of laughter. I am very lucky to be good friends with her."
In the arena, the three are both friends and competitors, and the three can usually stand on the podium together. In this year's Diving World Cup Finals, Gini won the bronze medal. At the award ceremony, Gini suddenly unzipped his sweatshirt jacket, revealing a white T-shirt underneath. It was printed with a funny photo of Chen Yiwen and Chang Yani. Later, it was learned that this T-shirt was given to Chen Yiwen by a fan, but it was "grabbed" by Gini and showed off at the award ceremony. Later, Gini reposted the photo of Chen Yiwen wearing this T-shirt at the award ceremony on his personal social platform and wrote: "Thank you for this wonderful gift."
This time in Paris, Gini was the strongest opponent of Chen Yiwen and Chang Yani. Gini also had the most difficult 5154B (3.4) in the whole game, and performed very stably. On the contrary, Chang Yani made a mistake in the first jump and ranked 12th. She fought hard in the next few jumps and won a bronze medal. The three of them stood on the podium together again, and the scene mentioned above appeared. After the game, Chen Yiwen revealed that this action was designed by the three of them in advance, "I still enjoy this moment."
In the mixed interview area, a reporter wanted Chang Yani to comment on her mistake in a jump. Chang Yani was a little embarrassed, but Chen Yiwen came to her rescue in time, "It's OK, it's great, what's the point of commenting after the competition." When asked how she would rate her own competition, Chen Yiwen was still thinking, and Chang Yani immediately commented "very good". At the post-match press conference, Chen Yiwen turned around from time to time to chat with Gini next to her in English. Chang Yani was a little shy to answer questions on the stage, so Chen Yiwen and Gini kept encouraging her.
"I think our meeting is fate," Chang Yani said when talking about the friendship between the three. "We have similar personalities, can play together, and compete with each other in a healthy way. I think the three of us can all perform at our own high level on the field, which also shows the charm of competitive sports." Chen Yiwen turned to confirm with Gini the exact year they met, and said with emotion: "Gini and I met at the 2017 World Championships, which is also eight years ago. It is difficult to have a friend who competes with you for eight years in the international arena. This time, the three of us stood on the podium together. This moment is still incredible and very precious."
Gini also opened up about this topic. "I feel like they are my sisters," she said with a smile. "I am really lucky that I can establish a positive competitive relationship with them on the springboard, which does not affect our relationship outside the springboard, and this also has a positive impact on the women's three-meter springboard. When we get together to participate in the competition, our relationship will make the competition sweeter and more interesting. I enjoy enjoying the competition with my two close friends. I am really lucky to be able to share this moment with each other." When talking about plans after the Olympics, Gini revealed that she would go to China to play. Chang Yani also said that if time permits, the three of them will make an appointment to travel together.
It is said that one can experience all kinds of life in the Olympic Games. In this diving competition, the sweet interaction and sincere friendship between the three people diluted the cruelty of the competition in the arena and made people feel the warm and beautiful other side.
Text | Yangcheng Evening News special correspondent in Paris Su Xing and Lu Hang
Photo | Xinhua News Agency
