London Olympics 2012 - China Diving Team - Essay Example

London Olympics China Diving Team INTRODUCTION The Olympic Games is determined to be one of the most prestigious events, which are organized indifferent parts of the world within a gap of four years. It is ascertained that the practice of conducting Olympic Games can be viewed from the past and it was mostly held in at the sanctuary of Zeus in Olympia, Greece (Olympics.mu, “The Olympic Games”). The 2012 Summer Olympics officially known as the game of XXX Olympiad was a foremost global multi-sport event which was held in the city of London, United Kingdom (BBC, 2005). It is worth mentioning that London was the first country to have hosted the modern Olympic Games event three times having previously done in 1908 and 1948 (Barden, “London's First Olympics”; Greenberg, “The 1948 London Olympics Gallery”). With the growing competition amid different nations at the global level, strategies are also being made to excel in field of education and sports. China as a leading global sporting nation is considered to be the most populated country, which has over the past two decades established a successful niche for itself in the Games. The subsequent results that are evidently showing in Olympic Games from Chinese participants especially diving team has been propagated by significant contributions from the government which is taking adequate steps to develop and convert the inherent skills of the sports persons to successful results and medals through a precise focus on team development. In this regard, it is observed that ‘Team Success/Failure Model’ is a crucial determinant and continuum to ascertain to inherent perspectives related to a team’s strengths and team members characteristics. The China diving team has been able to create history in the Olympic Games in the year 2012. The diving competitions in the Olympic Games (London) took place at the Aquatics Centre. It was one of the most attractive aquatic sports that took place at the games. Apart from diving, China also took part in other aquatic sports that comprised synchronized swimming, water polo and swimming. However, the China diving team was able to become the most successful country that topped the medal table with six gold, one bronze and three silver in total (BBC, “Medals in Diving”). THESIS STATEMENT The main objective of this study is to analyze the different facets associated with Chinese Olympic diving team which participated in 2012 summer Olympic Games with a special focus on synchronized diving. The study will be evaluated based on ‘Team Success/Failure Model’, which will enable to determine the key constituents of success achieved by the Chinese diving team. TEAM GOAL OR TASK Diving is considered to be a sport that primarily involves leaping or dropping into water from a raised area or launch pad on occasion while executing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally recognized sport since it acceptance in the Olympic Games in 2000. Although it is viewed that countries such as the United States ruled worldwide competitive diving events in the twentieth century however the sport is being accepted by many countries after it gained international recognition from IOC in the year 2000. China is observed to be one of the leading sporting nations, which has excelled in the sport of diving. The sport was accepted by the people when it was transfigured by national coach Liang Boxi (International Olympic Committee 1-9). Other noted counties that are adapting significant amount of strategies to uplift the sport include Russia, Great Britain, Italy and Australia among others. China is considered to be among the most revered participating nations in diving in the Olympic Games since the early 1980s. China won its first Olympic medal in diving in the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Again, in the year 1988, the nation gained two out of four gold medals in the diving category in Seoul which continued to grow as it was able to gain five gold medals from Sydney and six in Athens. Chinese divers quickly became accustomed to victory having won 73% of the total Olympic gold medal in diving till date. Going into the 2008 Olympic Games, China’s top divers were viewed to have faced genuine challenges in gaining their predicted medal count. The biggest weakness of the team in the 2008 Beijing Olympics was largely considered to be its preferences for choosing dives with lower difficulty ratings. It is worth mentioning that in diving, movements with a higher degree of difficulty offers both greater risk and greater points (Hart, “Dreams Carry Natalie Du Toit to Beijing”). However, it was viewed that the concerned sports personnel selected safe dives and performed them flawlessly which was criticized by many sports critics. Considering the 2012 London Olympic Games, Chinese diving team was considered to be one of the most renowned diving teams in the event. The Chinese diving team had a total number of 22 members out of which 13 were males and 9 were females. It has been observed that the team which participated in the London Games had a very healthy background as it had won around 224 World Series medals including 163 gold’s. Qin Kai among the male divers is considered to be the most successful Chinese diver of all time, having won a total number of 41 medals and Chen Ruolin is determined to be the most successful among the women divers, winning a total of 36 gold medals till date (British Swimming & The ASA, “FINA/Midea Diving World Series 2013”). The main goal of the Chinese diving team is to promote the game worldwide and also to become world leaders in the diving sport. The levels of difficulty in diving movements incorporated in the Games were also considerably complicated which provided them ample opportunity to shine at the medal tally. INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS The Chinese diving team had a total number of 12 divers across all diving events at the 2012 Olympic Games qualifying themselves through the 2011 World Aquatics Championships which started on 16th July, 2011 and ended on 31st July, 2011, in Shanghai, China. The championship mainly featured five water based spots that were Swimming, water polo, diving, open water and synchronized swimming. This championship was conducted to serve as a qualifying stage for the 2012 Summer Olympic. In this regard, it is observed that subsequently 12 divers were selected for the 2012 Olympic (FINA World Championships Shanghai, “Medal Table”). It has been evaluated that the selected divers in the Chinese diving team for the London Olympics possessed creativity, diversity and most importantly inherent skills to succeed amid other top ranked challengers in the Games. The individual characteristics of six of the most renowned and competitive players consisting of three males and three females are listed hereunder: Male. The individual characteristics of three major male players who were gold and silver medals winner in the 2012 London Olympics are stated hereunder: Qin Kai Qin Kai is considered to be one the most competent divers who represents China in all major diving sporting events held around the globe. Kai mainly excels in 3 m springboard and 3m synchronized springboard events. He first came into limelight after winning gold in 3m springboard and silver on the platform at the 2001 World Junior Championship. Till date, he holds 6 gold medals at a few of the major events such as World Championship and 2 gold medals at the Olympics (Chinese Olympic Committee, “Chinese Olympic Gold Medalists”). Zhang Yanquan Zhang Yanquan is considered to one of the youngest divers, who competes in the international level. Born in the year 1994, Yanquan specializes in 10 m synchronized platform. Till date, Yanquan has won 1 gold medal at the Olympic Games and has achieved 4 gold medals at other major events such as World Championship (Chinese Olympic Committee, “Chinese Olympic Gold Medalists”). Cao Yuan Cao Yuan is an upcoming diver who represents China in major international aquatic sports. Born in the year 1995, Yuan is considered to be an upcoming player in the diving section of the sports. Till date, Yuan has one gold medal at the Olympic level and one bronze in 2013 World Aquatics Championships. He performed commendably at the18th FINA Visa Diving World Cup in London which is considered to be a major event for all divers who compete at the global level. It is viewed that mutually Cao Yuan and Zhang Yanquan scored 481.29, maintaining the gold standard at the Olympic level (Chinese Olympic Committee, “Chinese Olympic Gold Medalists”). Female. The individual characteristics of three major female players of Chinese diving team who were gold and silver medal winners are stated hereunder: Chen Ruolin Chen Ruolin is considered to be one of the most renowned female divers around the globe. Ruolin has won a total number of 17 gold medals and 5 silver medals in diving out of which she won 4 gold medals at the Olympic Games, 5 gold and 3 silver at the World Championship and 8 gold’s and 2 silver’s in other events. She is specially trained in 10 m platform and 10 m synchronized platform. She is also the leading female diver who won gold medals in women's platform events in major diving events held around the globe (Chinese Olympic Committee, “Chinese Olympic Gold Medalists”). Wu Minxia Wu Minxia is one of strongest and finest divers in the Chinese diving team. Minxia is specially trained in 1m springboard, 3 m and 3m synchronized springboard. Till date, she holds the record of being the first women to win gold medals in a diving event in three consecutive Olympics Games. She possesses an exclusive figure i.e. 22 gold, 11 silver and 3 bronze medals under her belt (Chinese Olympic Committee, “Chinese Olympic Gold Medalists”). Wang Hao Wang Hao is a Chinese diver who specializes in 10 m platform and 10 m synchronized platform form of diving. She is one of the youngest Chinese divers, who represents her country at the global level. Till date, Hao has won 6 gold medals and 1 silver medal at some of the major global competitions (Chinese Olympic Committee, “Chinese Olympic Gold Medalists”). Coach. The coach for the 2012 London Olympics Chinese diving team was Zhou Jihong. Jihong is an ex-diver who represented China in all the major international sporting events that took place in the early 80s and 90s. She excelled in 10m Platform diving and had won gold medal in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and a silver medal at the Asian Games in 1982 which was held in New Delhi, India. Additionally, Jihong is also the Deputy Director of the National Swimming Administrative Centre and Vice President of the Chinese Swimming Association (Yilei, “No Big Blues for Diving Coach”). TEAM CHARACTERISTICS With regard team characteristics of the 2012 London Olympics Chinese diving team, it can be stated that the team possessed a blend of youth, expertise and experience. The team comprised 12 members of which a majority of the players were renowned world champions and past Olympic medalists. The team focused on participating in almost all of the available disciplines and subsequently achieved golden success in most of them. In relation to factors concerning success, China seemed to steal the show. They have topped the charts winning a sum total of 10 medals in diving. Their enormous success in this particular sport proved that that they had competitive advantages over other countries such as the United States, Russia, Mexico and Canada. Based on the overall success of China, it is also recognized that the athletes participating in the London Olympics from China were highly skilled in diving. In order to maintain their level of skills and standards, continuous training is needed to be provided to them. This would eventually help them in boosting their morale and will also prepare them to excel in the coming Olympic events as well. This would further lead to team survival, success and satisfaction of the needs of the members i.e. athletes (Chinese Olympic Committee, “Chinese Olympic Gold Medalists”). ORGANIZATIONAL INFLUENCE Sponsors are considered to be a vital part of every athlete as it not only helps the player financially but also facilitates in getting trained in order to represent their country at the international level. The organization that looks after the training and all the needs of the Chinese diving team and other Olympic teams is the State General Administration of Sports of China. The communication system within the organization seems to be very rigid and communicative. However, it does not provide ample opportunities for the team members to talk to their family or make new friends except the national players. The culture within the organization is mainly based on the traditional approach. The resources required to fulfill the requirement of the players are provided by the Chinese government and other sponsors. Moreover, it has been viewed that Li-Ning has been the official provider of the sporting goods that were needed by the players in the Olympic Games. The organizational training culture is deemed to be very rigid and it follows a much disciplined form of guidelines (Special Olympics, “Serving Athletes, Families and the Community”). EXTERNAL INFLUENCES Olympic players not only are considered to be amongst the most prestigious individuals in a nation but are also admired for their excellent performance at the global level. It is therefore ascertained that the sports personnel have great influences on a nation’s young individuals and up and coming sports persons. It is believed that these people face a number of encounters if they do not perform better at the international level. In recent years, it has been viewed that Olympic Games has developed to be regarded as the most significant global sporting event. Through the years of preparation for the game, an organizing committee creates mutual relation amid other organizations as the fund needed is huge to conduct and sponsor such huge number of players. It is also considered that the game has enormous potential to shape public attitudes and how people with intellectual disabilities are treated on a day-to-day basis. The sport of diving is determined to be an influencing sport in China. It has been measured that the diving team has more Olympic medals than any other sports which represent the country at the global level. According to estimation made, it has been measured that most of the upcoming athletes within China tend to be attracted towards diving as they consider it to be the favored sport and also they do believe that they would be provided adequate training as the country excels in it from the past few decades (Malfas, Theodorak and Houlihan 209-220). Additionally, the influence of Chinese divers in the international level can be considered to be enormous as it has been viewed that many countries such as Mexico are hiring Chinese coaches to train their athletes specially in diving (Malfas, Theodorak and Houlihan 209-220). PROCESSES Diving is deemed to be amongst the most well-known sports in present Olympic Games with increasing audience. It has been viewed that athletes who excel in this particular sport possesses many of the same characteristics as that of a gymnast or dancer with additional knowledge of flexibility, kinaesthetic judgment and air responsiveness. It is predicted that Chinese divers follow a very hard working and effective training system. Chinese divers train almost eight hours and six days a week, which is considerably much longer than what divers of other nations specially do. Additionally, the divers are shown videos of Greg Louganis, the famous American Olympic diver who won gold medals at the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games. The divers are also sent to various parts of the world to get trained from professionals who excel in the diving category (Crouse, “Louganis Is Back on Board”). Furthermore, the divers are also provided special privileges and are rendered free education and other world-class facilities in order to ensure a home-like environment. They eat, sleep and train at facilities in Beijing, China run by the China State General Sports Administration. It is worth mentioning that though Chinese divers are admired around the world for their excellence performance in the diving category however a significant extent of criticism has been made regarding how they are really treated. For instance, in the year 2012, it was revealed that the news related to Wu Minxia’s grandparents’ death was kept hidden for over a year so as to prevent her from being distracted. Moreover, her mother was suffering from contracted cancer from the past eight years which she did not know till the end of the 2012 Olympic Game. Such kind of rigid approach at times might hamper the motivation of the individual and in turn the team as well (Arthur, “Chinese Diving Champion Wu Minxia’s Parents Kept News Of Her Grandparents’ Death Hidden For More Than A Year So As Not To Distract Her”). OUTCOME: WIN/LOSS ANALYSIS The performance or outcome of the Chinese diving team in the international level is measured to be at all-time high in the period of London Olympics and afterwards. Diving among all is one sport that is creating a benchmark for many nations to uplift their training procedures or else they would fail in terms of competing with them. However, on close analysis, it was viewed that Chinese players tend to be influenced by the performance of the Americans in the diving category. As mentioned in the earlier sections, China seemed to have enormous success in the diving category. They have topped the medal charts and claimed a sum total of 10 medals in this particular event i.e. diving in London 2012 games. Their performances were much superior in relation to other countries such as United States, Russia, Mexico and Canada. Based on the overall success of China, it has been determined that the diving team boasts of highly skilled athletes with exemplary talent in diving. A statistical report showing the ranking of China as compared to above mentioned countries are shown below: Rank Nations Gold Silver Bronze Total 1 China 6 3 1 10 2 United States 1 1 2 4 3 Russia 1 1 0 2 4 Mexico 0 2 1 3 5 Australia 0 1 0 1 6 Canada 0 0 2 2 Source: (BBC, “Medals in Diving”). With reference to the above illustrated table, it can be viewed that in 2012 games in terms of win/loss ratio, Chinese diving team was way ahead of its nearest competitor i.e. the US and Russia. This signifies the dominance of the team and its sustained efforts to maintain the leading position in the segment diving in the Olympics. CONCLUSION The increasing competitiveness in the global sporting field has transcended into multi-dimensional events such as diving in the past two decades especially in the Olympic Games. It has been recognized that China as a sporting nation has come a long way in the past few Olympic events where it has taken a few of the sporting events by storm and has marched ahead of others significantly. In Olympic diving especially synchronized diving, China has achieved golden success in the past few Olympic Games including the London 2012 Games. Over the years, it has been viewed that the government and many other associations are taking initiatives to ensure such startling success of the athletes. Success of the Chinese diving team in the London Olympic Games has certainly facilitated to establish a positive image of the nation to the world. It is observed that Chinese diving team is made ready for high-profile events such as Olympics by building their team cohesiveness and individual competence. The diving team is extremely competent as it boasts of a number of world-beaters in its rank. The ‘team dynamics’ of the team is high-class where each individual complements the other in the performance arena. Below is a diagram representing the record of medals achieved by China in the field of diving in 2008 Beijing Olympics: Source: (BBC, “Beijing 2008 Medals for China in Diving”) The above figure indicates that China was able to attain even higher amount of success in the last Olympic Games held in Beijing in 2008. In the particular event, China was able to claim a sum total of 7 gold medals which put the country in a very impressive position. Moreover, in the London 2012 games as well the Chinese diving team was able to maintain its golden run by winning 6 gold medals. Therefore, based on the overall evaluation of team and statistical win/loss history, it can be predicted that in 2016 Olympics to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the diving team is expected to again shine and bring back more laurels to the country. Works Cited Arthur, Bruce. 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