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Zi HE
Sport Diving
NOC China   
GenderWomen
Born10 Dec 1990 in Nanning, CHN
Height1.60 m
 Human Interest 
Further Personal Information
Higher education
 Journalism - Renmin University of China: Beijing, CHN
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport?
 She was invited to join a sports school to do gymnastics when she was in kindergarten because she was particularly flexible. She was then noticed by a diving coach.
General Interest
Hero / Idol
 Chinese divers Guo Jingjing and Wu Minxia. (12pao.com, 07 Mar 2013)
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?
 She began diving at age six at Nanning Sports School in the People's Republic of China.
International Debut
Year
 2006
Competing for
 China
Tournament
 Asian Games
Location
 Doha, QAT
General Interest
Other information
 RETIREMENT
In July 2017 she announced her retirement from the sport. "It is 20 years since I started diving at age six. Now it's time to say goodbye. Last year [2016] I was a diver but this year I am a wife and I am going to be a mother." (news.xinhuanet.com, 25 Jul 2017)

SURPRISE PROPOSAL
After winning a silver medal in the 3m springboard at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, her partner Qin Kai proposed to her. "This morning, I walked into a room and I found him reciting something, but I did not really take notice of that. I asked him what he was doing and he said he was singing. I just did not know that he was practising proposing." The couple married in June 2017. (ONS, 15 Aug 2016; news.xinhuanet.com, 25 Jul 2017)

RECORD BREAKER
She won her 47th World Series gold medal in total in the 3m springboard synchro at the 2016 event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This broke the record for the number of World Series gold medals claimed by a diver of either gender. Chen Ruolin of the People's Republic of China had previously held the record. (fina.org, 17 Mar 2016)

EARLY DAYS
She was initially reluctant to start the sport. "They told me diving was fun, but I regretted it as soon as I got to the pool and saw how deep it was. I hoped that someone would come and rescue me. Once I could swim though, I started to learn new moves and gradually I began to have a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction." (sports.people.com.cn, 02 Sep 2013; news.bbc.co.uk, 26 Jul 2010)
Further Personal Information
Residence
 Beijing, CHN
General Interest
Hobbies
 Listening to music, singing, travelling, watching films, drawing, writing. (Weibo profile, 25 Jul 2017; edu-hb.com, 22 Jul 2013)
Injuries
 She was troubled by a foot injury after the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (news.xinhuanet.com, 25 Jul 2017)

She injured her leg during the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai in People's Republic of China. (espnstar.com.cn, 01 Jul 2011)

She has been troubled by auricular haematomas [bleeding of the ear] in her right ear on a number of occasions during her career. (sports.163.com, 13 Aug 2015)
Further Personal Information
Languages
 Mandarin
General Interest
Nicknames
 Diving Princess (sports.gmw.cn, 09 Aug 2012; news.jstv.com, 15 Aug 2016)
Sporting philosophy / motto
 "Experience makes you mature." (2012.qq.com, 07 Aug 2012)
Awards and honours
 In 2013 she was named the Female Springboard Diver of the Year by the International Swimming Federation [FINA]. (insidethegames.biz, 06 Jan 2014)

In 2010 she was awarded the May 4th Youth Medal by the Guangdong provincial government in the People's Republic of China. (gdcyl.org, 07 Jul 2010)
Famous relatives
 Her husband Qin Kai competed in diving for the People's Republic of China at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (ONS, 15 Aug 2016)
Further Personal Information
Family
 Husband Qin Kai

 Competition Highlights
Olympic Games
Rank Year Venue Event Result
2 2016 Rio de Janeiro, BRA 3m Springboard 387.90
2 2012 London, ENG 3m Springboard 379.20
1 2012 London, ENG 3m Springboard Synchro 346.20
World Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
2 2015 Kazan, RUS 3m Springboard 377.45
3 2015 Kazan, RUS 1m Springboard 300.30
1 2013 Barcelona, ESP 1m Springboard 307.10
1 2013 Barcelona, ESP 3m Springboard 383.40
2 2011 Shanghai, CHN 3m Springboard 379.15
1 2011 Shanghai, CHN 3m Springboard Synchro 356.40
4 2009 Rome, ITA 3m Springboard 336.65
1 2007 Melbourne, AUS 1m Springboard 316.65
Grand Prix
Rank Year Venue Event Result
11 2011   3m Springboard  
1 2011 Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA 3m Springboard 389.45
8 2009   3m Springboard  
1 2009 Shenzhen, CHN 3m Springboard 386.55
1 2009 Shenzhen, CHN 3m Springboard Synchro 324.90
1 2008   3m Springboard  
2 2008 Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA 3m Springboard 357.75
1 2008 Madrid, ESP 3m Springboard 371.40
1 2008 Rome, ITA 3m Springboard 378.80
1 2008 Rostock, GER 3m Springboard 362.45
2 2008 Shenzhen, CHN 3m Springboard 391.10
2 2007   3m Springboard  
3 2007 Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA 3m Springboard 330.65
2 2007 Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA 3m Springboard Synchro 312.30
1 2007 Madrid, ESP 3m Springboard 357.80
1 2007 Madrid, ESP 3m Springboard Synchro 308.70
2 2007 Montreal, CAN 3m Springboard 337.90
1 2007 Montreal, CAN 3m Springboard Synchro 315.30
2 2007 Moscow, RUS 3m Springboard 351.70
1 2007 Moscow, RUS 3m Springboard Synchro 330.00
2 2007 Zhuhai, CHN 3m Springboard 360.90
2 2007 Zhuhai, CHN 3m Springboard Synchro 328.50
Asian Games
Rank Year Venue Event Result
1 2014 Incheon, KOR 3m Springboard 374.45
1 2010 Guangzhou, CHN 3m Springboard 382.00
2 2006 Doha, QAT 1m Springboard 312.30
2 2006 Doha, QAT 3m Springboard 366.90
World Series
Rank Year Venue Event Result
2 2016   3m Springboard  
2 2016 Beijing, CHN 3m Springboard 338.10
1 2016 Beijing, CHN 3m Springboard Synchro 330.30
1 2016 Dubai, UAE 3m Springboard Synchro 328.80
1 2016 Kazan, RUS 3m Springboard 388.20
1 2016 Kazan, RUS 3m Springboard Synchro 329.40
1 2016 Windsor, ON, CAN 3m Springboard 401.55
1 2016 Windsor, ON, CAN 3m Springboard Synchro 339.90
3 2015   3m Springboard  
2 2015 Beijing, CHN 3m Springboard 372.90
1 2015 Beijing, CHN 3m Springboard Synchro 330.00
2 2015 Dubai, UAE 3m Springboard 377.50
1 2015 Dubai, UAE 3m Springboard Synchro 338.40
1 2015 Mérida, MEX 3m Springboard 380.55
1 2015 Mérida, MEX 3m Springboard Synchro 325.80
1 2015 Windsor, ON, CAN 3m Springboard Synchro 316.80
1 2015 Windsor, ON, CAN 3m Springboard 378.90
1 2015 Windsor, ON, CAN 3m Springboard Synchro 323.70
2 2014   3m Springboard  
2 2014 Beijing, CHN 3m Springboard 356.40
1 2014 Dubai, UAE 3m Springboard 382.10
1 2014 London, ENG 3m Springboard 360.15
1 2014 Monterrey, MEX 3m Springboard Synchro 321.60
1 2014 Moscow, RUS 3m Springboard 377.40
1 2014 Windsor, ON, CAN 3m Springboard Synchro 326.40
1 2013 Beijing, CHN 3m Springboard 395.65
1 2013 Guadalajara, MEX 3m Springboard 370.05
1 2013 Guadalajara, MEX 3m Springboard Synchro 327.00
1 2012   3m Springboard  
1 2012   3m Springboard Synchro  
1 2012 Beijing, CHN 3m Springboard 395.55
1 2012 Beijing, CHN 3m Springboard Synchro 347.70
2 2012 Dubai, UAE 3m Springboard 371.45
1 2012 Dubai, UAE 3m Springboard Synchro 329.40
1 2012 Moscow, RUS 3m Springboard 353.30
1 2012 Moscow, RUS 3m Springboard Synchro 320.40
1 2012 Tijuana, MEX 3m Springboard 386.55
1 2012 Tijuana, MEX 3m Springboard Synchro 339.90
2 2011 Beijing, CHN 3m Springboard 400.20
1 2011 Beijing, CHN 3m Springboard Synchro 341.10
1 2011 Guanajuato, MEX 3m Springboard 385.05
1 2011 Guanajuato, MEX 3m Springboard Synchro 332.70
1 2011 Moscow, RUS 3m Springboard 371.40
1 2011 Moscow, RUS 3m Springboard Synchro 346.50
1 2011 Sheffield, ENG 3m Springboard 396.95
1 2011 Sheffield, ENG 3m Springboard Synchro 334.20
1 2010 Qingdao, CHN 3m Springboard 389.55
4 2010 Qingdao, CHN 3m Springboard Synchro 264.00
1 2010 Veracruz, MEX 3m Springboard 385.15
1 2010 Veracruz, MEX 3m Springboard 377.35
1 2010 Veracruz, MEX 3m Springboard Synchro 336.60
1 2010 Veracruz, MEX 3m Springboard Synchro 324.00
1 2009   3m Springboard  
1 2009   3m Springboard Synchro  
2 2009 Changzhou, CHN 3m Springboard 367.05
1 2009 Changzhou, CHN 3m Springboard Synchro 331.20
2 2009 Doha, QAT 3m Springboard 373.05
1 2009 Doha, QAT 3m Springboard Synchro 342.90
1 2009 Mexico City, MEX 3m Springboard 357.90
1 2009 Mexico City, MEX 3m Springboard Synchro 332.10
1 2009 Sheffield, ENG 3m Springboard 371.25
1 2009 Sheffield, ENG 3m Springboard Synchro 332.70