At 26, diver Chen Yiwen has a sizzling resume punctuated by six world championship titles and two Olympic gold medals from Paris (in 3m and 3m synchro).

But China is so dominant in diving that it can be hard to remember each athlete’s tallies. Two of Chen’s female teammates, for example, also have eight world and Olympic titles. Another has six.

Yet Chen is one of the livelier characters on the team.

Even before she was a diver, she reportedly had another career: as a child actor performing in TV commercials and at least one drama called “Landing, Please Open your Mobile Phone” that aired in 2008 and featured her in an airplane scene.

In April, Chen revealed nine other cool facts in an exclusive mini-interview.

What happens after you win two Olympic gold medals?

“I took a very long break after Paris Olympics. My training wasn't good for a very long time after the Olympics. I felt that my mental fortitude relaxed a lot, and recently, there hasn't really been any motivation for me. But I can still push myself to 370 points for two [individual World Cup silver medals in 2025], and it's way better than I thought I can do.” 

Maddison says you collect Crocs shoes? Is that true? If so, why?

“I just love Crocs shoes!  I have about 15 or 20 pairs. I wear every single one of them but I wouldn’t say I collect them.”

Your biggest influence?

“My parents, for sure. I wanted to give up so many times as a teenager when I just started my professional career and they always had a way to talk me back into it. I left my home in Hainan when I was 8 and I went to Guangzhou for diving. It’s a bit far away [from my home, an island province – the southernmost in China], but they always came to see me every two weeks. It was never easy for them, but still. It’s a one-hour flight, but there's like an ocean between those two cities. Now I train in Beijing.”

Most prized possession?

“I would say my dad's gold ring. He bought this ring right after he married my mom. It's been over 30 years and he's a little bit fat for the ring now. It’s never gonna fit him, so he passed it down to me. I put it on my neck before I compete.”

Your secret talent besides diving?

“I can speak English! Does that count?”

What if you had one night to go out and the choice was karaoke or disco?

“Oh, I think I will stay in.”

Really?

“Depends on the crowd.”

What does your name, Yiwen, mean?

“It's a mix between culture and art. Culture is from wénhuà, and then art is from yìshù, artistic.”

Your favorite World Aquatics sport besides diving?

“High diving. I think it's exciting. I would never do it because I don't want to kill myself. But I love to watch!”

Remember your first perfect 10?

“The first and the only time was in Tokyo at the 2021 World Cup, on my final dive: 5152B on 3m [a forward 2½ with one twist]. I didn’t expect it. But I knew it happened because I could hear it at the time. I was SO surprised! Someone just gave me a 10!”