12 year-old athlete wins three gold medals in diving

Tan Lingling (Middle) receives a gold medal on the podium on behalf of team Hechi. [Photo by Huang Hai / hcwang.cn]

The diving competition of the 13th Guangxi sports meet was held in the natatorium of Wuzhou University from Nov 6 to 8. The 12-year old girl Tan Lingling from Du'an county won three gold medals in diving for team Hechi.

After taking the crown, Tan shed tears due to her victory excitement and said, "I hoped I could win the gold medals in diving. I have finally made it."

Tan Lingling was born in July 2003 in Du'an Yao autonomous county. She started to learn diving at Hechi Amateur Sport Training School in March 2010. She became a professional diving athlete in November 2013, and started stricter training with the Bayi Navy Diving Team.

She has won many awards in competitions in recent years, such as the gold medal in five-meter platform dive in 2012 Guangxi Children Diving Championship, three gold medals in the same championship the following year and another two titles this year.

Although Tan has left Hechi for her diving career, she emphasized that she will come back to win more victories for her hometown whenever she is needed.