Welcome to 听故事说中文, the podcast where stories come alive to help you improve your Chinese language proficiency and cultural competency.

Today, we're talking about champion diver Quan Hongchan. While fans celebrated her recent gold medal, many noticed how visibly thin she's become. Behind her flawless dives is a grueling, almost heartbreaking battle with the scale.

We'll explore the extreme discipline required to stay at the top at just 17 years old—like stressing over 50 grams of water and giving up everyday joys like fried chicken or a simple sip of cola. But this isn't just a sports story. It's a relatable reflection on how we so often tie our own self-worth to numbers, and a gentle reminder to appreciate the simple freedoms we take for granted.

Rui & Simeng

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Check out our playlists on Spotify

Chinese for Intermediate-Playlist

Chinese for Intermediate High-Playlist

Chinese for Advanced-Playlist

Chinese for Superior- Playlist

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