Clash of the titans

China's diving "Dream Team" will likely remain the dominant medal collector at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, backed by its deep talent pool and the divers' world-class performances at the National Games.

With a legion of multiple-time Olympic and world champions clashing at one meet, the diving program in Guangzhou, has, perhaps, outranked all other international events in terms of the quality of the field, making it, arguably, the toughest competition in the careers of China's best divers.

Athletes representing their respective home provinces, or municipalities, had to beat more world-champion-caliber opponents at the 15th National Games than they ever normally face at international events, to reign supreme in each of the 14 individual and team disciplines.

After winning the women's 10m platform gold on Monday, four-time individual world champion Chen Yuxi said she's even more pleased to see the collective rise of the younger generation than claiming her maiden National Games individual title.

"For competitive sports, having a steady stream of talent is more important than being strong alone in promoting the event's development," said Chen, representing Team Shanghai at the Games, which are being held in Guangdong province and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao.

Chen also won a gold medal in the synchronized 10m platform alongside diving partner Zhang Minjie last week.

According to official statistics from the 15th National Games, eight of the 12 athletes who competed in women's individual 10m platform were born after 2010, with the youngest, Liu Zihan, just 11 years old, demonstrating China's deep talent pool in the sport.

"To be able to compete with so many experienced and decorated older sisters, and finish on the podium together with them, I am just happy," Liu, who won bronze in 10m platform, said while looking up at Chen during the post-final news conference.