Diving star Zhang soaks up the feel-good factor

Nineteen-year-old Chinese diver Zhang Jiaqi stood on the top of the podium at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and just last month claimed a gold medal at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

But competing at the Chengdu FISU World University Games in Chengdu, Sichuan province, offered a unique experience, she said.

"Fellow contenders at the games are all college students from around the world, so the event gives us a great opportunity to communicate with each other, learn about different cultures and have a taste of local folk customs," said Zhang, a student-athlete from Beijing Sport University.

"I had a great time at the athletes' village as everybody was friendly and passionate," she said.

Zhang described her encounters with foreign athletes at the event as "a rush toward each other" — a buzzword on Chinese social media describing concerted endeavors to get together, usually among people in love.

"I think we were all happy to gather here at the Chengdu event because we share the same dream," she said.

Zhang and her partner Zhang Minjie, a student-athlete from Shanghai University of Sport and a world champion herself, won the gold medal in the women's synchronized 10-meter platform event at the Jianyang Cultural and Sports Center Gymnasium on Monday afternoon.

South Korea's Ko Hyeon-ju and Kim Seo-yeon took the silver.

After finishing her last dive, Ko rested by the pool for a while before standing up.

She explained during a news conference that she injured her feet about a month ago but had decided to press on to join the Chengdu event.

"I did not want to miss this opportunity," Ko said.

Zhang Jiaqi said she felt for her. "Only athletes can fully understand how much pain we have endured and how much effort we have dedicated to sports. We are able to sympathize with each other," she said.

The four were the only contenders at the event on Monday afternoon, as the other team from the United States withdrew before the match.

"It was also the first time I competed with only one other team," said Zhang. "But no competitions are easy, and because I am representing China, I wanted to do my best in all games."

Zhang left Chengdu on Tuesday for Beijing to prepare for the 19th Asian Games, which are set to open in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, in September.

"I saw some short videos about the local cuisine and beautiful scenery of Chengdu, and it is a pity that I won't have the opportunity to wander around the city streets this time," she said. "I hope that I will visit the city again in the future so as to fully absorb the distinct culture here."

Zhang said that she is a fan of Hua Hua — the nickname for a panda in Chengdu who became an online sensation recently for her rotund stature.

Despite her short stay in Chengdu, Zhang said she had bought many souvenirs featuring Rongbao, the panda mascot for the games.

"The panda is one of the symbols of my home country, and now this adorable being has also acted as a bridge to promote friendship between different countries. What a marvelous thing!" she said.