Paris Olympics: Chinese tough love works wonders for Mexico’s new diving sensation Olvera
- Osmar Olvera almost scuppered China’s chances of sweeping diving gold, and coach Ma Jin says there is plenty of talent in South America
Mexico’s Osmar Olvera has been one of the biggest threats to Chinese diving dominance at the Paris Olympics and behind the wonder boy’s rise is a coach from Beijing.
At one stage, the 20-year-old from Mexico City looked like scuppering China’s hopes of a gold medal sweep in Paris, but ultimately had to settle for a silver and bronze in the men’s synchronised and individual 3-metre springboard respectively.
Ma Jin, 56, has been coaching Mexican divers for 21 years since being sent to Latin America on a quasi-diplomatic Chinese sports exchange programme.
Over those two decades, she has coached a number of regional and international medal winners including Mexico’s first world champion, Paola Espinosa.
It was perhaps no surprise therefore that an ambitious Olvera approached her at the age of 14.
“Many Mexican kids are scared of me because they think I’m serious and very strict but Osmar was prepared for that,” Ma said after Olvera won his bronze on Thursday.