Swimming World Names China’s Shi Tingmao and Xie Siyi Divers of the Year
With 2021 winding down, Swimming World is naming its athletes of the year across a variety of aquatic sports. On the boards, China had both the Male and Female Divers of the Year in Shi Tingmao and Xie Siyi. Shi and Xie excelled at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, earning multiple titles. Here is a look at their accomplishments.
Shi Tingmao, China – Female Diver of the Year
China’s Shi Tingmao continued to prove she is the top diver in the world, having been named Swimming World’s Female Diver of the Year a record five times (2015-17, 2019, 2021). This past year, Shi won the women’s 3-meter springboard gold medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Shi also won gold in the 3-meter synchro, following the same path she did in Rio in 2016 with gold in both 3-meter events.
“I’ve waited so long for this moment,” Shi said after winning her Olympic gold medals. “There were a lot of expectations. I feel satisfied.”
Xie Siyi, China – Male Diver of the Year
Photo Courtesy: R-Sport / MIA Rossiya Segodnya
Like Shi Tingmao on the women’s side, China’s Xie Siyi captured two gold medals at the Olympic Games, also taking both 3-meter events (springboard and synchro). Xie was selected as Swimming World’s Male Diver of the Year, an honor he also earned in 2019. This past summer’s Olympic triumph was the cap to an amazing comeback after breaking his leg twice in 2014. The injury kept him from competing for a spot in Rio. But five years later, after an extra year because of the pandemic, Xie finally stood atop the Olympic podium— twice.