PARIS — It was an amazing experience to cover my first Olympic Games. As someone who for years has meticulously planned schedules to maximize my Olympic streaming at home, getting to be here in person was a joy and perhaps the highlight of my career. Two memories stand out: Prior to covering the women’s synchronized platform diving competition, I was asked by a Chinese television station for an interview.
They wanted my thoughts, as an American, about China’s diving tandem of Quan Hongchan, 17, and Chen Yuxi, 18. The request was as natural as if I’d asked them about Simone Biles or LeBron James. But I politely declined, explaining how I didn’t know much beyond names and reputations.
Once the competition began, though, I understood: These two are a very big deal. Their performing in tandem from a 10-meter platform was the most beautiful and impressive thing I witnessed in these Olympics. The synchronization was flawless and stunning.
Of course, they won gold in a rout, and afterward, Chinese media swarmed the two teenagers, who sheepishly answered questions best they could between embarrassed smiles. It was a lesson to me about how sports can be both universal and surprisingly disparate. That on this big planet we’ve got, something so significant in one massive country can go mostly unnoticed in another.
I’ll admit, too, feeling a twinge of Olympic envy at the national pride displayed by other countries at venues (and the boisterous French fans in particular). Ju.