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Guo Jingjing denies Hong Kong 2012 rumors

Monday, 1st September 2008 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)

If Guo Jingjing (郭晶晶) isn't in the pool, she must be in the tabloids. Post-Olympic rumors have the diver taking her gold medals and moving to Hong Kong, where the buzz is that she may marry her boyfriend Kenneth Fok and compete for Hong Kong in the 2012 Olympics.

According to this AFP story she has denied the rumors, saying at a press conference in Hong Kong: "I have no plan to move to Hong Kong. I am still a member of China's national diving team and there will be many new plans and new goals to follow."

Will she or won't she? Guo on a post-Olympic HK media tour
Will she or won't she? Guo on a post-Olympic HK media tour


But because the next best thing to actual news about China's top-earning female athlete is speculation about possible news, the papers are not letting this one rest.

Some Hong Kong media are reporting that Guo's wedding plans have "entered the final sprint, with a wedding next September [2009]," according to a report on mainland sports portal Titan24. Moreover, the reports assert that Guo will not retire as the reigning "queen of diving" but will become a Hong Kong resident and represent Hong Kong in the 2012 Olympics in London.

"As soon as the Chinese Olympic champion representative group touched down at Hong Kong's airport, Guo Jingjing became Hong Kong media's number one target," the report said, "This has become the hottest topic of conversation among Hong Kong's sport and media circles."

According to that story, Guo has not been clear on whether she intends to marry or whether she'll compete in London at all.

The story also cited inside sources saying that should Guo want to represent HK in London, she'll need to talk with the China Olympic Committee and China Swimming Association. Conventional wisdom in China's sports circles seems to be suggesting that should she want to represent HK, neither organization will give her much trouble.

This is likely because she'll be 31 years old in 2012, and is unlikely to be perceived as a major gold medal threat.

Guo Jingjing image: Singtaonet

Tags: diving, Guo Jingjing, Kenneth Fok, Olympics, 郭晶晶

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