With the weight of the world off her back

The miracle of renewal, my sweetheart, is to repeat without repeating. Nâzım Hikmet, Bach’s Concerto No. 1 in C Minor

Diving Queen 吴敏霞 (Wú Mǐnxiá) training in 广州 (Guǎngzhōu), China before leaving to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The choice was dictated by the fact that both cities have similar climate and weather conditions. 羊城晚报 (Yángchéng Evening News)’s reporter says that athletes and coaches had to wear ultraviolet (UV)-protective face masks which they bought at their own expense. Photo: gz.southcn.com.

In her 18-year diving carreer, 吴敏霞 (Wú Mǐnxiá) has experienced all sorts of stresses, both physical and emotional. In the picture above, she, the Siren, enjoys the magic of being transmuted to crab. With a little help from her coach. Photo: ifeng.com.

So even a diving star must almost show the ability of a dancer to extend the leg in développé and hold it en l’air. Photo: news.benkua.com.

It can even happen that she, the Goddess, in order of strengthening her back and spine, has to carry the weight of the Celestial Empire on her own tiny shoulders. With a little help from her coach. Photo: xm.fjsen.com.

And then, living in between, accidents, injuries, medical cures & treatments, convalescence and rehabilitation. Photo: 360doc.com.

Just to be here (there) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on August 3, 2016. Maybe for the last time at Olympics. Or maybe not. Photo: sina.com.cn.

And finally, the Goddess flies over the sky and into the TV screens all over the world. Photo: wanhuajing.com.

But it’s not the gold itself. It’s just because the sirens cannot live for long outside Atlantis. Nothing matters more. Photo: gzhphb.com.