German diver Timo Barthel has revealed the huge sacrifices Chinese athletes have made in order to win gold at the Olympics in Paris, claiming that some of his rivals have not seen their families for three years.
Team GB’s Tom Daley and Noah Williams produced six superb dives in the men’s 10m synchro diving final on Monday but they were beaten to the gold medal by China’s duo of Lian Junjie and Hao Yang.
Daley and Williams finished on 463.44 points but were blown away by an impressive display from Lian and Yang saw them lead the event from the first round and end with 490.35 points.
‘The Chinese did absolutely incredible today,’ Daley said. ‘They were on incredible form. Every single one of their dives was flawless.’
Barthel and his partner Jaden Eikermann represented Germany in the event and finished seventh overall with 364.41 points.
And speaking after the final, Barthel claims the strict regime of China’s diving team plays a major role in their success at the Olympics.
‘Even with our best performance, we would have finished sixth today,’ Barthel said.
‘And in Germany, a medal counts. Everyone talks and reports about it. And whether we finish fourth or seventh doesn’t make much difference. So I’m proud of us and happy that we made it and qualified. We were in the final, we’re in seventh place, and no one can take that away from us.
‘That was the toughest competition this year. Insane. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a 490 before. Awesome competition.’
Speaking about the sacrifices made by China’s divers ahead of the Olympics in Paris, Barthel said: ‘They live in a boarding school, four to a room.
‘They train for twelve hours. They don’t know anything other than diving. They don’t have a private life like we do where we go out with a girlfriend or partner, eat ice cream, go to restaurants, meet family. Sometimes they don’t see their family for three years.
‘That is the difference between absolute world class and our performance today. But the question is also – do you want it that way? Do you want to have a life like that so that you can have gold?’
Barthel also admits that the prize money on offer for winning gold is not enough to convince him to adopt the lifestyle of China’s athletes.
‘I heard on the news that we get €20,000 [£16,800] for a gold medal in Germany. Is it worth it? For €20,000? That you put your whole life on hold?’ Barthel said.
‘We already do that. I don’t live in Aachen anymore. I only do it for myself. Unfortunately, money doesn’t play a role for us.’
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