Dropping the beat

In the world of hip-hop, gold chains have long been a symbol of success, cultural pride and personal expression.

Such bold accessories add to a rapper's presence, both on and off stage.

In July, a hip-hop artist going by the stage name Dragon One released an original track, boasting in his lyrics, "I'll wear the gold medal like a gold chain".

It seemed like a typical case of bravado — the kind the genre is known for — until Dragon One put his money where his mouth is.

Less than a month later in Paris, performing under his real name, Long Daoyi, the 21-year-old Olympic debutant claimed gold in the men's synchronized 3m springboard diving event alongside his teammate Wang Zongyuan.

After turning his lyrical swagger into reality, Long began writing another hip-hop track titled Champion, describing the bond between him and his partner Wang, as well as his emotions after achieving their dream in Paris.

The lyrics — "Just woke up from a dream, with a gold medal in my left hand; Just woke up from a dream, with a mic in my right hand" — illustrate his dual identity as both diver and hip-hop artist.

Throughout the grueling and monotonous hours of training far from home, "music has provided me with great spiritual support," Long confided.

He starts his day with soothing melodies and turns to more energetic tracks during intense training.

"Before my Olympic debut in Paris, I listened to a particularly energizing track called Cute Pinch to ignite my fierce spirit," he recalled.

Long's path to Olympic glory from the springboard began in 2010, when, as a seven-year-old, he was spotted running about in a sports stadium in Rongjiang county, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture of Southwest China's Guizhou province.

He caught the eye of Cao Liye, a coach for the Hebei provincial diving team, who offered a direction in which the child could focus his boundless energy.

"From a tender age, he fearlessly imitated fellow athletes on the one-meter board, daring to attempt somersaults and rotations, despite his lack of foundational diving skills. Although his execution was imperfect, his exceptional ability for self-control in the air impressed me," Cao said.

Among his fellow divers, Long often insisted on being the first to jump.

"Back then, I found diving to be exciting and thrilling," Long recalled.

"I was considered one of the better trainees among my peers, which boosted my confidence," he said.

As he began to win some prizes at competitions, he felt a strong desire to become a better diver.

"I started dreaming of one day competing alongside the top divers in the national team," he said.