China's diving queen Guo Jingjing is once again in the limelight, not only for her record fifth consecutive 3m springboard world title yesterday in Rome but because of her controversial attitude toward the media during the World Championships.
Her shot at the title was never in doubt as the four-time Olympic champion scored a massive point total of 388.20 and led from start to finish at the FINA Swimming World Championships. She collected a record ninth world title overall.
Guo is considered the greatest and most successful diver in the sport's history and has been the center of the nation's attention wherever she goes.
But her notoriety doesn't stem just from her remarkable achievements in swimming - she has also created controversy due to her perceived behavior toward the media.
During the World Championships, a group of domestic media launched a rare attack on Guo.
Answering questions with efficiency and escaping the flashes from photographers, Guo has come under fire for snubbing the media since showing up in Rome before Monday's qualification.
"When Guo noticed the cameras from the media, she lowered her head or turned her head to another side to avoid the flashes," wrote a reporter from Chengdu Business Newspaper after watching the qualification round of the women's 3m springboard on Monday. "Her training schedule is also different from her teammates, so few journalists have been able to catch her in training."
It is not the first time Guo has been accused of being rude to the media. Domestic media accused the diving queen of being "arrogant" and "impolite" during a test event for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in February 2008.
Reports from the media said she used just 20 words to answer four questions at a press conference during that event.
Guo's indifference has also struck a chord with foreign journalists covering the World Championships. "Guo is beautiful and has achieved good results, but she always keeps people at a distance. I noticed she turned down a request for a signature from a little girl," an Italian reporter was quoted as saying by Liaoning Daily.
"A foreign women journalist appealed to team leader Zhou Jihong about Guo's uncooperative behavior to her after the qualification," a story from Yangcheng Evening Post said.
Guo is not the only one among the Chinese diving team to be criticized at the World Championships. Her teammates were also reminded to be more cooperative with the media.
"The bronze medalist of the women's 1m springboard, Wang Han, just said 'I have nothing to say' at a press conference. After being reminded by a FINA media officer, Wang, who was in her first big event in Rome, said "I'm happy to win the bronze medal and I'm satisfied with my diving today," Liaoning Daily reported.
(China Daily July 22, 2009)
