Platefuls of green veg, no sleeping in and barely an afternoon to hang out with friends -- life for China's 14-year-old Asian Games diving champion Zhang Jiaqi doesn't seem like much fun.
Zhang, who secured victory in the synchronised 10 metre platform in Jakarta, is now part of China's extraordinary diving history that has seen them win every Asiad gold going they first joined the Games in 1974.
But there is no secret to their colossal success, the Chinese divers say -- their enormous medal haul is simply the result of lots of hard work.
"The reason why the Chinese team is so good is that we work really hard. Harder than any other country in the world," said Si Yajie, 19.
"We have to get up very early every day and train all day," added Si, a two-time Asian Games champion and Olympic silver medallist.
The elite squad of Chinese divers, who all live together at state-run facilities in Beijing, rise at 6.00 am every day apart from Sunday, their 'rest' day.
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Still, no day is completely wasted and the divers are put through their paces from 9.00-11:00 am before they head off for some free time.
The girls and women also face huge pressure to keep their weight down to limit splash after a dive, and what they eat is decided by their coaches -- usually a Chinese-style dish with lean meat and lots of green vegetables.
- It's worth it for gold -
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