The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics witnessed a historic performance from the Mexican diving team, guided by their Chinese coach, Ma Jin. Under her mentorship, Mexico clinched unprecedented medals, challenging the dominance of the sport’s powerhouse, China.
In a nail-biting men’s synchronized 3-meter springboard final, China’s duo Wang Zongyuan and Long Daoyi narrowly defeated Mexico’s Osmar Olvera and Juan Celaya by just two points. Despite falling short of gold, the Mexican pair’s silver medal marked a significant achievement for the nation.
Olvera, only 20 years old and participating in his second Olympics, didn’t stop there. He went on to secure a bronze medal in the men’s 3-meter springboard event, becoming the first Mexican diver to win two medals in a single Olympic Games since 1956.
“I am very satisfied with the competition,” Coach Ma Jin shared in an interview with CGTN Sports Scene’s Greg Laffradi. “Osmar Olvera is just 20 years old, and this is his second Olympics. Earning two medals is a breakthrough for Mexico. Even the President of Mexico sent a message congratulating Osmar on making history.”
Ma Jin attributes the success to a unique blend of Chinese training methods and her personal coaching style. “We all know that the Chinese diving team is the ‘dream team,’ and I have coached in China,” she said. “It’s hard to beat China’s team. Compared to the Chinese team, there is indeed a big gap with other diving teams in terms of training, management, and system.”
Adapting her training methods to suit the Mexican divers was a challenge. “I adjusted my approach by expressing the techniques differently, but only a few athletes can persist; more choose to give up,” Ma explained. “They say I’m very serious, but I think I’m normal. Some of them are scared of me. I believe my coaching style, which combines Chinese skills and personal charm, helps some Mexican divers achieve excellent results.”
Looking ahead, Ma Jin hopes that Olvera’s success will inspire further development of diving in Mexico. “Osmar’s achievements are not just personal milestones but also a catalyst for the sport’s growth in our country,” she stated.
The remarkable performance of Mexico’s diving team under Ma Jin’s guidance signals a promising future and underscores the impact of cross-cultural collaboration in sports.
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Mexico diving coach Ma Jin discusses her team's performance in Paris
cgtn.com
