Ruolin Chen

Hobbies

Listening to pop music [her favourite artist is Taiwan's Jay Chou], watching television, reading, watching cartoons.(womenofchina.cn, 20 Aug 2008, njnews.cn, 12 Dec 2006, diving2008.org.cn, 20 Feb 2008)

Occupation

Athlete, Student

Education

Business Administration - People's University, China

Club name

Jiangsu, China

Coach

Ren Shaofen (CHN) (FINA Aquatics World Magazine, 20 Feb 2011)

Debut

2006 (2008teamchina.olympic.cn, 20 May 2010)

Injuries

In 1999 she dislocated her right elbow after colliding with a teammate during an indoor training session. (gansudaily.com.cn, 01 Aug 2006)

She fractured her arm when she was six. (nz.china-embassy.org, 20 Aug 2008)

Additional information

Start of sporting career
She started diving at the age of four at the Nantong City Youth Sports Institute. (sports.sina.com.cn, 01 Aug 2006)

Reason for taking up this sport
She was picked for diving because she has a slender physique. (gansudaily.com.cn, 01 Aug 2006)

Ambitions
To win a medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. (FINA Aquatics World Magazine, 12 Jun 2011)

Hero
China's multiple world and Olympic Games diving champions Fu Mingxia and Guo Jingjing. (FINA Aquatics World Magazine, 12 Jun 2011)

Most influential person in career
Her grandparents are the most important people in her life as her parents are abroad and her grandmother phones her nearly every day to encourage her during competitions. (www.womenofchina.cn, 20 Aug 2008)

Superstitions / Rituals
If she is nervous the night before competition, she thinks happy thoughts to help her go to sleep. (sports.sina.com.cn, 12 Dec 2006)

Sporting philosophy / motto
"So long as I've tried my best." (njnews.cn, 12 Dec 2006)

Awards
She was named female Diver of the Year for 2010 after winning the World Series in the 10m and 10m synchro disciplines as well as winning a gold and silver at the World Cup. (FINA, 07 Jan 2011)

General
SMALL STATURE
Chen was the shortest athlete at the Beijing Olympics at 1.36m. (www.womenofchina.cn, 20 Aug 2008)

AGE CONTROVERSY
Doubts about her age began to surface in 2007. According to Chinese registration lists she was born on 26 Apr 1994 but the date was later changed to 12 Dec 1992 in 2007. If she was born in 1994 then, due to age restrictions in official competitions, she would have been competing illegaly when she won a gold and silver medal at the 2007 World Championships. (People's Daily Online english.people.com.cn, 30 Apr 2010)

DIET
As she grew and became heavier she gave up her favourite food - ice cream and cake- eating more vegetables and nutritious food instead. "I always have to watch my weight and shape or else I won't be able to complete the most difficult dives. Sometimes I would get really hungry, but I was only allowed to drink water. I would tell myself to hold on until after the Olympics." (www.womenofchina.cn, 20 Aug 2008, nz.china-embassy.org, 20 Aug 2008)

Previous Olympics

Beijing 2008