Dream team targeting another golden sweep

For China's all-conquering diving squad, the goal is always the same — winning all the gold medals on offer.

A dream team, comprising 15 world champions and four Olympic gold medalists, will not need any reminding of that message as the World Aquatics Championships begin in Fukuoka, Japan on Friday.

Team China's haul from last year's worlds in Budapest featured a sweep of all 13 diving golds, along with two silver and two bronze. This year, the team's hunger for glory remains as insatiable as ever.

"The Chinese diving team is ready for the world championships, and our goal is to bring more golds back to China. But, by no means, will we have it easy," said team leader Zhou Jihong.

"We had a long time to prepare for these championships. Considering the high temperatures at home, it has not been easy for our athletes. I hope all of our divers can produce great performance in Fukuoka."

The team's brightest stars are Olympic champions Chen Yuxi and Quan Hongchan. The duo have dominated the women's 10m platform and women's 10m platform synchronized since winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics. This season there has been no letup from the teenage sensations.

At the first meet of the 2023 World Aquatics Diving World Cup in Xi'an, Shaanxi province in April, Chen triumphed in the women's 10m platform, while Quan was just 7.7 points behind in second. At the second stop in Montreal, Canada in May, Quan took the gold, while Chen claimed silver.

As a duo, they topped the podium in the 10m platform synchronized competitions at both World Cup meets. In Fukuoka, fans are raring to see their neck-and-neck rivalry resume in the individual event, and also hope the duo, as teammates, can continue to dominate the 10m platform synchronized.

"I would say my performances this season have been just OK. The scores and the results looked fine, but I know that my moves were not perfect. I have many things to improve. I need to be more graceful and I need to keep leveling up my physical strength. I'm ready for the challenges at the world championships, and I hope I can have good performances," said Chen.

Olympic champion Wang Zongyuan and world champion Long Daoyi will battle it out for men's 3m springboard gold and team up for the men's 3m synchronized. In the women's 3m springboard and 3m synchronized, world champions Chen Yiwen and Chang Yani spearhead Chinese hopes.

In the men's 1m springboard, China will send out Peng Jianfeng and Zheng Jiuyuan, while Li Yajie and Lin Shan will go for gold in the women's 1m springboard. World champions Yang Hao and Lian Junjie are China's picks for the men's 10m platform and men's 10m synchronized.

Bai Yuming, Zheng Jiuyuan, Si Yajie and Zhang Minjie will fly the flag in the 3m and 10m team event, while Zhu Zifeng and Lin Shan will compete in the mixed 3m synchro.

The first gold up for grabs is the mixed 10m platform synchronized event on Saturday, when Olympic champion Zhang Jiaqi and Wang Feilong are expected to prevail.

"We have had good performances recently, but not quite up to our own high standards. We have made solid progress, but we still have big room for improvement," said Zhang, who won the women's 10m synchronized gold at the Tokyo Olympics.

"Our competition will be the first final at the worlds, so it's our job to bring the first gold medal back. We need to show our spirit."

With China such a huge favorite in almost every event, Team China leader Zhou has cautioned against complacency.

"We have certain advantages in the women's platform events, but there are some very talented rivals at the worlds, such as the Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix of Britain, who finished third at both World Cup meets this season," said Zhou.

"And in the springboard, divers from the US, Japan, Britain and Germany can all pose threats to us. I just hope our divers can show their peak level at the world championships."