Wu Minxia, a fragile champion diver with steel mind

China's Shi Tingmao and Wu Minxia dive to win gold during the women's synchronized 3m springboard final at the Aquatics World Championships in Kazan, Russia, July 25, 2015. [Photo by Stefan Wermuth/Reuters]

"I broke my feet on the land. I had waist injury, and suffered from long-time lower than normal hemachrome. I could not finish a normal training session like others. It was too hard that I almost wanted to give up," Wu recalled.

It was Wu's coach and team manager Zhou Jihong who encouraged her and boosted her confidence.

"I really want to achieve my goal - to compete in Rio Olympic Games and pass all the qualification events," Wu said.

Wu, 29 years and 284 days old, can become the third oldest female diver to claim a world title in any event, after Russians Irina Lashko (30-170, 2003) and Yulia Pakhalina (31-310, 2009).