- Born:
- November 10, 1985, Shanghai, China (age 41)
- Awards And Honors:
- Olympic Games
Wu Minxia
-
Who is Wu Minxia?
Wu Minxia (born in Shanghai, China, on November 10, 1985) is the most-decorated female athlete in diving history and the most-decorated Chinese athlete in Olympic history. At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, she won her seventh medal, surpassing all other Chinese athletes.
Wu began professional diving training in 1991 at age six. She secured her first international victory in 1999 at the Féderation Internationale de Natation (FINA) Diving Grand Prix. Throughout her career, Wu earned seven individual medals at FINA world championships. She retired from competitive diving in late 2016 and has since made television appearances. In 2017, she participated in The Amazing Race China with her husband, Zhang Xiaocheng, whom she married that same year. Together, they have two children.
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What sport does Wu Minxia compete in?
Wu Minxia is a celebrated Chinese athlete who competed in diving. She began professional training in 1991 and secured her first international win in 1999 at the FINA Diving Grand Prix.
Throughout her career, Wu achieved remarkable success in both individual and synchronized diving events. Partnering with Guo Jingjing, He Zi, and Shi Tingmao, she won multiple gold medals at FINA world championships. In 2016, she became the most-decorated Chinese athlete in Olympic history after winning her seventh medal at the Rio Olympic Games. She retired from diving in late 2016.
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Which Olympic Games did Wu Minxia participate in?
Wu Minxia participated in four Olympic Games, achieving a record as the most-decorated female athlete in diving history and the most-decorated Chinese athlete in Olympic history.
Her Olympic journey includes:
* 2004 Athens Olympics: Gold in synchronized 3-meter springboard (partnered with Guo Jingjing), silver in the 3-meter springboard.
* 2008 Beijing Olympics: Gold in synchronized 3-meter springboard (with Guo Jingjing), bronze in 3-meter springboard.
* 2012 London Olympics: Gold in synchronized 3-meter springboard (partnered with He Zi), gold in 3-meter springboard, becoming the first woman to win the same diving event in three consecutive Olympic Games.
* 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics: Gold in synchronized 3-meter springboard (partnered with Shi Tingmao). This was her fourth consecutive gold medal in this event.1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What diving events is Wu Minxia best known for?
Wu Minxia is best known for her achievements in diving, specifically in the synchronized 3-meter springboard event. She is the most-decorated female athlete in diving history and the most-decorated Chinese athlete in Olympic history.
Wu won a gold medal in the synchronized 3-meter springboard at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics with her partner, Shi Tingmao. This accomplishment made her the first woman to win four gold medals in the same diving event at consecutive Olympics. Throughout her career, Wu also earned seven individual medals at FINA world championships. She was named the FINA Athlete of the Year in the female diving category in 2011 and 2012.
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How many Olympic medals has Wu Minxia won?
Wu Minxia is the most-decorated female athlete in diving history and the most-decorated Chinese athlete in Olympic history. By the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Wu had won her seventh medal, which is more than any other Chinese athlete. One of her medals was a gold medal in the synchronized 3-meter springboard with partner Shi Tingmao. With that accomplishment, Wu became the first woman to win four gold medals in the same diving event at consecutive Olympics. At the time, Wu was also the oldest female diver to win Olympic gold. Wu retired from competitive diving in late 2016.
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What makes Wu Minxia one of the most successful divers in history?
Wu Minxia is the most-decorated female athlete in diving history and the most-decorated Chinese athlete in Olympic history. At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, she won her seventh medal, surpassing all other Chinese athletes.
Notably, Wu is the first woman to win four gold medals in the same diving event at consecutive Olympics. She won her first international competition in 1999 at the FINA Diving Grand Prix. She partnered with Guo Jingjing, winning gold medals at the world championships in 2003, 2007, and 2009. After Guo retired, Wu continued her success with partners He Zi and Shi Tingmao. Moreover, Wu earned seven individual medals at FINA world championships. She was also named FINA Athlete of the Year in 2011 and 2012. Wu retired from competitive diving in late 2016.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Wu Minxia (born November 10, 1985, Shanghai, China) is the most-decorated female athlete in the history of diving and became the most-decorated Chinese athlete in Olympic history at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. There she won her seventh medal overall, more than any other Chinese athlete. One of the medals Wu won was a gold medal for the synchronized 3-meter springboard with partner Shi Tingmao. With that accomplishment Wu became the first woman to win four gold medals in the same diving event at consecutive Olympics. Wu, who was 30 years old at the time, set another record, as the oldest female diver to win Olympic gold.
Diving career
Wu began training for professional diving in 1991 when she was six years old after a coach selected her because of her correct form and suitable height, weight, and flexibility. She won her first international competition in 1999 at the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA; later called World Aquatics) Diving Grand Prix in the 1-meter springboard event. She continued to compete (and win) at FINA competitions and, in 2001 at the world championships in Fukuoka, Japan, she began partnering in synchronized events with Guo Jingjing, who had won two silver medals in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. They won gold medals at the competition in Fukuoka and also in FINA world championships in 2003 (Barcelona), 2007 (Melbourne), and in 2009 (Rome). After Guo retired in 2011, Wu won the title with partner He Zi in 2011 (Shanghai) and with Shi in 2013 (Barcelona) and 2015 (Kazan, Russia).
During her career Wu also earned seven individual medals at FINA world championships. She won the silver in the 1-meter springboard in 2001, 2005 (Montreal), and 2009. In the 3-meter springboard she won the bronze in 2003, the silver in 2005 and 2007, and the gold in 2011. Wu was named the FINA Athlete of the Year in the female diving category in 2011 and 2012.
Olympic Games
Wu made her first Olympic appearance at the 2004 Games in Athens. Partnered with Guo, she won gold in the synchronized 3-meter springboard event. When they were not partnered, she placed just behind Guo in the 3-meter springboard event, winning the silver medal.
At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Wu and Guo repeated their win in the synchronized 3-meter springboard. Wu then won the bronze medal in the 3-meter springboard. At the 2012 Olympics in London, she once again won the gold medal in the synchronized 3-meter springboard, this time with He (Guo had retired in 2011). She became the first woman to win the same diving event in three consecutive Olympic Games. She also won the gold medal in the 3-meter springboard.
Wu won her fourth consecutive gold medal in the Olympic synchronized 3-meter springboard event at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. She and new partner Shi finished the event with 345.60 points, more than 30 points over the silver medalists. With that win, Wu earned her seventh career Olympic medal, a feat that was unmatched in Chinese Olympic history.
Personal life
Wu retired from competitive diving in late 2016. She remained in the public eye through television appearances, however, and in 2017 she appeared in The Amazing Race China with her husband, Zhang Xiaocheng, whom she had married earlier that year. Together they have a daughter, Xixi, and a son, An An.
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