
This Olympic diving champion is only 15 and viewers are feeling very inadequate

- 21
- 08
- 2016
There was one competitor that out-dived everyone else in the women’s 10m platform final in Rio, and went on to claim the gold medal.
And no one can quite believe it, because China’s Ren Qian is only 15 years old. Yep, she was literally born in (wait for it) 2001.
A 15 year old just won an Olympic Gold medal.
She was born in 2001!!
15!!
2001!!
Is this for REAL?? #Olympics #diving— Polly James (@PollyJames) August 18, 2016
She definitely proves that age is no barrier – as the commentator said, she gave us all a diving masterclass. Well, you know, if you have any idea how diving works, that is.
15 years old and winning an Olympic gold medal 😳😳😳😳 #gold #China #diving
— adam wallhead. (@Wallhead91) August 18, 2016
15 year old making #diving look so easy! #Rio2016 #CHN #Gold
— Alex James Owens (@AlexJamesOwens) August 18, 2016
how do you even win a gold medal when you’re 15 years old #RioOlympics2016 #diving
— Lauren (@sportsgirl_37) August 18, 2016
So a 15 year old just won a gold medal 👀 Ridiculous 🏅 #Diving #Olympics #Rio2016
— Lloyd O’Neill (@lloydoneill1989) August 18, 2016
15yrs old and an Olympic Gold medalist. Just astounding. #diving #Rio2016
— Torie (@MrsVGooden) August 18, 2016
Of course it led to lots of “when I was 15…” tweets.
A 15 year old won the #diving in #Rio2016? Amazing!
At 15 I could barely answer the house phone without dying of embarrassment.
— Alison (@mumofchaos3) August 18, 2016
When I was 15 I was drinking cider on the park and wearing a GAP jumper with Reebok doubles going on the back of Squids scooter…#diving
— Soph (@sophsays87) August 18, 2016
A 15 year old is about to win a gold medal, I couldn’t put my trunks on the right way round when I was 15 Jesus hats off #Olympics #diving
— Tom (@tomwilliams24) August 18, 2016
Yep, just like when 16-year-old Amy Tinkler won bronze for Team GB in gymnastics in Rio, Ren Qian winning at 15 has made us all question our life choices.
15 year old Chinese girl looks like she going to win the diving.. I’m 26 and can’t even swim properly #smh #Olympics #diving
— Nik (@kalia_1989) August 18, 2016
15 years old and she just won a gold medal… I really am contemplating what I’m doing with my life #Diving
— naomi (@jasparsjoly) August 18, 2016
Sadly, Team GB’s Tonia Couch didn’t do quite so well. In fact, she came bottom of the table as she finished 12th, which is obviously gutting after years of training so hard – but Team GB supporters were tweeting how proud they are of her.
(David Davies/PA)
It just wasn’t @toniacouch‘s day. But she should be proud to have made the @Rio2016 #diving final! @PlymouthDiving1
— Tudor Evans (@CouncillorTudor) August 18, 2016
Well done @toniacouch you should be proud of yourself! You did everyone & your country proud 😘🇬🇧 #diving #GBR #Rio2016
— Maddy Hopson (@MaddyHopson1997) August 18, 2016
I couldn’t and won’t ever be top 12 in the world at anything @toniacouch I cheered you all the way! #beproud #teamgb #Rio2016 #diving 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
— Pete Lymn (@lymbo70) August 18, 2016
Hard luck @toniacouch! Still did an amazing job and no doubt inspired so many people! #diving #Rio2016 #TeamGB
— Sarah O’ Sullivan (@sarah_Osully) August 18, 2016
So proud of you @toniacouch in the final #diving #Rio2016
— Linda (@Linda_Grace74) August 18, 2016
Oh I’m so gutted for @toniacouch but what an amazing achievement to get to the finals #Diving #Olympics #Rio2016
— Dan (@dan_langshaw) August 18, 2016
The 27-year-old from Plymouth said: “I’m getting old and it’s getting harder, but fingers crossed I keep my body together for the synchro in a few years’ time.
“I don’t think that’s the end of me just yet. I had the time of my life this last couple of weeks and it’s sad it’s over.”