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The following is issued on behalf of the 2009 East Asian Games (HK) Ltd.:
Guo Jingjing, the diving diva, hates to make a splash as it's precarious in what she does.
She's been churning up the limelight from the time she became a member of the Chinese aquatics team in 1992. But, she's a shy and private person and, does the only thing necessary when called upon in front of flashing cameras and umpteen questions. She just smiles with that radiant beam that tells a lot.
On the three-metre springboard above the waters of the Kowloon Park Swimming Pool, she's a picture of unsmiling concentration. So is her partner Wu Minxia.
With precision they look down once, then turn around, their backs to the water. With a tiny step they make the dash-board bounce with a timely rhythm. They jump up and like twin springs they do a triple somersault and enter the water like two bullets, minus the sound.
There's a tiny ripple and the water gurgles implosively. They have done what they had done so many times…another top score and another gold for China.
Guo Jingjing climbs out the pool and turns to face the flashing bulbs and cacophonic applauds of the crowd. She bows and smiles at her partner with that familiar smile and gets ready for the medal presentation ceremony.
She walks the short distance past the stretched-out microphones and yelling questions. How many times has she given the same answers...she can only smile and make her way forward...to another headline-splashing victory.
Ends/Sunday, December 13, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:33
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