Feature: Chinese diver Ma Jin's 22-year coaching in Mexico

by sportswriters Li Chunyu, Gao Meng and Zhou Xin

BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) -- "We have a great coach from China. She teaches techniques for the best," Mexican diver Randal Willars Valdez said during the World Aquatics Diving World Cup Super Final in Beijing, a three-day event which concluded on Sunday.

Mexican divers surged on the international stage in the past decade and claimed a bronze in the mixed team event at the Beijing Super Final, which is mainly attributed to the 57-year-old Chinese coach Ma Jin, who was once a diver in team Beijing and started her coaching journey in Mexico since 2003.

"I didn't expect too much initially," Ma recalled. "It was a bit hard to imagine that the diving facilities at that time were far from satisfactory in Mexico as the springboards were timeworn."

There was also a language barrier for her inevitably. Ma learned Spanish for three months in China before leaving for the other side of the Pacific Ocean, but it was still difficult for her to get used to the new environment.

"I could only use some easy words, so body language was a main approach for me to communicate with others. Mexican friends helped me to make progress gradually and enhance language proficiency," said Ma, also head of China's aid coaching team to Mexico.

Despite the obstacles at first, Ma thought about what she could possibly bring to Mexico all the time.

"I represent the image of the Chinese people. I can introduce the style and techniques of Chinese divers to Mexico," Ma noted. "Punctuality and strict requirement feature team China, and I inject these characteristics to Mexico."

With unremitting efforts, she led Mexico to make history in diving. At the 2011 Pan American Games, Mexico swept all eight diving golds. In 2016, Rommel Pacheco Marrufo became the first Mexican diver to triumph in the Diving World Cup. Now, Marrufo serves as the director of Mexico sports committee, and the diving facilities have been much improved in recent years.

At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Mexican divers seized a silver in the men's synchronized 3m springboard and a bronze in the men's 3m springboard. In April this year, Mexico's Juan Manuel Celaya Hernandez and Osmar Olvera Ibarra topped the podium in the men's synchronized 3m springboard at the 2025 World Aquatics Diving World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico.

"When Mexican divers achieved great results, I felt everything is paid off. Diving has become a popular sport in Mexico," said Ma, who was awarded the Order of the Aztec Eagle in 2012, the highest honor given a foreigner for services to the country. "Over the years, I have adapted to the living habits in Mexico. After work, I got used to walking around and having Chinese food. I miss Chinese food a lot."

Her surname "Ma" has the same pronunciation as the character which means "mother" in Chinese, also indicating a close relationship between Mexican divers and her.

"I enjoy the time with Mexican kids in both training and daily life. They are smart and know how to express their feelings, as they once texted me 'We love you.' The young athletes are brave to confront challenges with great mentality. I also need to learn from them," she remarked.

Reflecting on her 22-year coaching journey overseas, Ma said, "If I can inspire more Mexican people to know more about diving, everything will be deserved. If I can build a bridge for cultural exchanges between China and Mexico, I think I may bring an honor to my home country." ■