These Games often mark pivotal turning points in athletes' careers—testaments to personal growth or crossroads in their lives—where many veterans bid farewell to competitive diving while the younger generation strides toward the sport's pinnacle.

The 15th National Games, co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, drew over 14,000 elite athletes from across the country.

Fourteen gold medals were up for grabs in the diving competition, with the host Guangdong team topping the medal table, securing six golds, one silver, and two bronzes. As one of China’s traditional diving powerhouses, Guangdong’s divers claimed victories in the women’s team event, the men’s team event (securing their eighth consecutive title), the women’s all-around team event, the men’s and women’s 3m synchronised springboard events, and the women’s 3m springboard individual event.

Olympic champions Quan Hongchan, Chen Yuxi, Wang Zongyuan, and Cao Yuan shone as the biggest stars throughout the 10-day diving competition.

Quan Hongchan: From Olympic Champion to "Team Babysitter"

Wearing a waist baby carrier wherever she went, Quan—who secured three Olympic gold medals in the women’s 10m platform at the last two games—stepped into the role of a "babysitter" outside the pool, taking good care of the infants of her teammates Xie Siyi and Peng Jianfeng.

"We’re like a big family on the team, and I’m the aunt to my teammates’ babies. Taking care of them is so much fun," Quan laughed.

Plagued by ankle and hip injuries, Quan was forced to withdraw from the individual 10m platform event two days before the diving competition kicked off on 2 November. She only competed in the women’s team event and the 10m synchronised platform event, partnering with Wang Weiying.

"My feet hurt so badly I can barely walk, let alone dive. But I really wanted to take part in these National Games—it’s the first time they’re being co-hosted," said Quan.

In the team event, she and her teammates narrowly defeated her former Olympic champion partner Chen Yuxi and Chen’s Shanghai teammate Zhang Minjie by a margin of just 0.90 points. Later, she finished fifth in the synchronised event.

"I’m awesome! I’m still awesome. I managed to finish the whole competition. I think I did pretty well diving like this," Quan said.

The 18-year-old spent time smiling and watching all the competitions from the stands with her teammates. "It feels happy and relaxing to be an ordinary spectator. No path is futile; every stumble is part of my journey. Whether right or wrong, they’re all my footprints," she reflected.

Quan later donated all the toys she received from the audience to a local charity school, hoping each toy would bring joy and comfort to a child in need.

Chen Yuxi: Finding Inner Peace

Chen, who has paired with Zhang Minjie since the Singapore world championships in July, claimed the women’s synchronised 10m platform title and secured her first individual victory at the national games.

Despite a mistake in her second dive (the 407c), which earned her only 49.60 points in the preliminary round, Chen adjusted her performance from the third dive onward. She climbed to first place to advance to the semifinals, then dominated both the semifinals with a score of 423.70 and the final with 412.30 to take home the gold.

"After the Paris Olympics, I never thought I’d stand on the 10m platform again. The pressure made me want to escape, but gradually, I learned to focus more on myself and adopt a more open-minded attitude in daily life. I think I’ve built a stronger mindset—one that helps me understand and heal myself better," said Chen, who lost the individual 10m platform gold to Quan at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games.

Last year, Chen enrolled in the sports training program at the School of Physical Education, Tongji University, embracing a new, balanced life between studying and diving.

"I’ve felt a change in myself since last year—I’ve found inner peace and rekindled my passion for diving. I’m more open-minded and focused than ever before," Chen said. She previously claimed the individual title at the World Aquatics World Cup Super Final last May and sealed victory at the Singapore World Championships with a total score of 430.50 points.

When asked how she copes with the growing pains of her career, Chen shared a unique secret: she carries a scale with her wherever she goes.

"I might weigh myself ten times in a single day. I don’t want to go over 43 kilograms—that’s my ideal weight. It requires a lot of self-discipline, but I’m used to it now," said the 20-year-old, who has won nine golds and one silver across her five previous world championships.

Wang Zongyuan: Chasing the Dream of Double Gold

Wang, a specialist in the men’s 3m springboard, shared a similar frustration with Chen Yuxi. While he has won most individual and synchro titles since 2022, he lost the individual gold to veteran Xie Siyi at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games.

At the National Games, Wang claimed two titles: The men’s 1m springboard and the men’s 3m springboard. In the 3m springboard final, he scored a competition-high 106.40 points for his last dive, the 407c, finishing with a total of 549.85 points. His performance in the semifinals was even stronger, with a score of 580.40.

"Winning at the national games is incredibly difficult, so this victory means a lot to me. It boosts my confidence and my desire to win more," Wang said.

"Since 2022, I’ve won almost every gold medal in competitions except the Olympic individual gold. I’d even be willing to trade all my world championship golds for one Olympic individual gold. I had so many thoughts swirling around, and I desperately dreamed of that Olympic individual title," said Wang, who won two synchronised golds and two individual silvers at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, and has accumulated nine golds and one silver across five world championships.

Looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Wang described the preparation period as a game of chess, where every move counts. "The next Olympics will be even tougher, but my goal remains the same: Double gold. I’ll keep pushing forward, step by step, toward that target."

Cao Yuan: The All-Around Legend

Cao Yuan, a world-class diving legend skilled in both springboard and platform events, is an Olympic Champion across four games—London, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, and Paris. He has also claimed five golds, five silvers, and one bronze at World Championships, plus 42 golds in previous diving world series events. However, one gap remains in his impressive resume: a National Games gold medal in the men’s 10m platform.

In Guangzhou, Cao failed to secure a victory in either the men’s all-around or the 10m platform events he competed in.

"I’m exhausted because of my age. I felt tired and lost focus during the competitions. I also have shoulder injuries, so I can’t train as hard as I used to," said the 30-year-old veteran, attributing his performance to his age.

The men’s 10m platform competition was an especially "huge challenge" as the preliminary round, semifinal, and final were all held on the same day.

"Doing 18 dives in one day made me feel like I was perched on the edge of a cliff. My chronic fatigue and injuries wore down my patience and concentration," Cao admitted.

Cao led the preliminary round with 521.75 points and the semifinal with 542.35 points, but a mistake in his third dive, the 207b, earned him just 64.80 points. He fought back with scores of 101.75 and 100.80 in his last two dives, finishing in second place with a total of 527.35 points—only 3.5 points behind the champion, Lian.

"It’s a pity I couldn’t win the individual 10m platform gold. But on the other hand, it’s great to see the younger generation performing so steadily and well at these games. That’s exactly what makes the generational transition meaningful, and it’s the key to the Chinese diving team’s pursuit of excellence. I’m honoured to be part of this great team," Cao said.

Cao defended his Olympic title in the men’s 10m platform at the Paris Games with an impressive score of 547.5 points, helping China sweep all eight diving gold medals at the Paris Olympics. He also became the first diver since American legend Greg Louganis at the 1988 Seoul Olympics to defend the men’s 10m platform Olympic gold.