
“Wishing everyone a happy Valentine’s Day, wishing that all shall be well, and that Jack shall have Jill. Heartfelt thanks to this handsome man who has always been by my side.”
Rio Olympic gold medalist Wu Minxia posted this heartfelt message on her Weibo just one hour before the start of Qixi, China's Valentine's Day, on Aug. 9. The post, which referenced Wu's boyfriend of six years, is making a splash across Chinese social media.
Wu just made history by becoming the first five-time Olympic diving gold medalist, after she and partner, Shi Tingmao, took gold in the women's synchronized 3m springboard on the afternoon of Aug. 7. It was Wu's fourth straight gold in the event.
But the relationship status of the 31-year-old, who is known for her shy, quiet character and dedication to her sport, has been something of a mystery up till now.
“Our first date was at the police station,” said Zhang Xiaocheng, Wu’s fiancé, in an interview with Lesports.com.
“I invited her to have dinner and watch a movie, but my wallet was somehow stolen. We went to the police station to report it. Wu never once complained. She was very polite and gentle with the police. I was thinking, oh, such a terrific, tender personality.”
Zhang Xiaocheng, 30, works for the Chinese Athletic Association affiliated with China’s Sports Administration. Holding a state-level athletics referee certification as well as China’s top English-language proficiency certification, he works as an English-language commentator for sporting events including track and field and swimming.
“I first met her at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in the Water Cube. I was there broadcasting about the water sports. I watched the synchronized 3m springboard for which she claimed gold with then-partner Guo Jingjing. We met each other, but she, thrilled and nervous from the competition, didn’t really take notice of me. At that time I felt nothing but whole-hearted admiration for her as an Olympic champion,” Zhang said.
The two became friends but didn’t start dating until 2010.
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