On August 9th, Chen Yiwen and Chang Yani, the gold medalists of women’s synchronized 3m Springboard, won the first and third places in the women’s 3m Springboard Final, with 376.00 and 318.75 total points, respectively. Maddison Keeney, an Australian diver, took home the silver with 343.10 points.
In the awarding ceremony, Maddison and Yani congratulated Yiwen with a heartfelt gesture. This heartwarming post-competition interaction gracefully showcased their friendship.
Credit: Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei
“She and I”
Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen have been partners for five years, winning this event at the last three World Championships. After winning the women’s synchronized 3m Springboard Finals, Yani commented on their relationship: “We have distinctive personalities, but the two personalities are compatible and complementary. We support each other mutually and make progress from encouragements, and it can be reflected in tiny bits in life.”
Chen Yiwen, born in 1999, began her diving journey by coincidence in 2008. According to her mother, she was active—or perhaps restless—since childhood. She practiced ballet, performance, and trampoline, but diving was the only sport she managed to persevere in. When asked what the difference between diving and other sports is, she described diving as a sport that requires the athlete to find a calm state in a particularly excited and nervous moment, thus controlling every small, separate muscle group to complete a perfect move. She admits that this is the current challenge she is targeting.
Chang Yani, on the other hand, is two years younger than Chen. Her coach spotted her diving talent when she started as a gymnast. As members of the renowned “Dream Team,” Chang and Chen appreciated the joint effort dedicated by their predecessors and logistics. In a post-competition interview, Yiwen revealed that she and Yani shared differences in terms of weight and techniques. In fact, their diving styles are distinctive, so they devoted themselves to matching as a pair, appreciating Chang for accompanying her at every “special moment” in the past.
On July 27, Chang and Chen won the women’s synchronized 3m Springboard event, seizing the first gold for the diving dream team at the Paris Olympic Games with a total of 337.68 points. During their post-competition celebration, Chen picked up and held Chang in her arms, causing the silver medalists—Kassidy Cook and Sarah Bacon—to glare at them with astonishment. Such an intimate relationship sparked viral speculation about their connection beyond that of synchro teammates.
Credit: Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei
Should Celebrities Expect Privacy?
Such resonance indicates global attention on LGBTQ groups, embracing the spirit of liberty in Paris—the “City of Light.” In the Chinese context, homosexual relationships are neither illegal nor recognized; they are not banned or promoted. Criticism defines such ignorance as a violation of the LGBTQ community’s human rights, while opposing opinions argue for a healthy attitude represented by the authorities—without bias.
The tendency of neither confirming nor denying raises concerns about the appropriate limits of public curiosity regarding celebrities' privacy, a longstanding controversy. The blurred ethical line between individual privacy and public concern involves intersectional perspectives from different parties. In the research “The Position of Privacy From the Viewpoint of Celebrities and Journalists,” the author compares the insights of celebrities and journalists—two seemingly opposing parties—to examine the balance between “people’s right to know” and “people’s interest to know.”
References:
- “陈艺文谈2024年巴黎奥运会：希望跳出更好的自己.” Olympics.com, International Olympic Committee, 11 July 2024, olympics.com/zh/news/2024-paris-chinese-athletes-diving-feature-chenyiwen. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.
- Goulding, Grace. “Paris 2024 Diving: All Results, as Chen Yiwen Wins Women’s 3m Springboard, Seventh Diving Gold for People’s Republic of China.” Olympics.com, International Olympic Committee, 9 Aug. 2024, olympics.com/en/news/paris-2024-diving-results-chen-yiwen-wins-gold-diving-china. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.
- Holmes, Jon. “LGBTQ Fans Love Chinese Olympic Diving Stars Chang and Chen- Outsports.” OutSports, OutSports, 5 Aug. 2024, www.outsports.com/2024/8/5/24099543/chen-yiwen-chang-yani-china-diving-olympics-paris-podium/.
- “Paris 2024.” Olympics.com, 2024, olympics.com/en/paris-2024/results/diving/women-s-3m-springboard/fnl-000100--. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.
- Seton, Halston. “Navigating Public Scrutiny in Celebrity Crises - Platform Magazine.” Platform Magazine, 12 Apr. 2024, platformmagazine.org/2024/04/12/navigating-public-scrutiny-in-celebrity-crises/. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.