Shanxi athlete wins silver in World Aquatics Championships

Li Yajie from North China's Shanxi province secured a silver medal in the women's 1m springboard final at the World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, on July 15. 

In the preliminary round, 44 athletes competed in two groups. Li Yajie, in the first group, scored 54.00, 58.50, 67.50, and 58.50 in the four dives with codes 403B, 105B, 305C, and 5333D, respectively. With 283.35 points, she ranked second in group one, securing a spot in the final. In the final, Li won the silver medal with 306.35 points.

Born in 2002, the young woman began her career in sports at the age of 7. She gained recognition after becoming the champion in mixed 3m team springboard diving and the runner-up in women's 1m springboard diving at the 2nd National Youth Games in 2019.

She won the 2021 National Diving Championship and set a new record with 318.35 points during the women's 1m springboard diving final.

Due to her excellent performance, Li made the Chinese diving team in November 2021 and represented the national team in the World Championships for the first time in 2022. 

The rising diving star indicates the rapid development of the sport in Shanxi. 

Over the past two decades, Shanxi has produced top divers, including Chang Jing, Wang Liang, Zhou Xin, and Zhang Xinghao. At the 2017 FINA World Championships, Shanxi divers Li Zheng and his teammate Wang Han won the mixed 3m team springboard championship, bringing the province its first world diving championship.