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Shanghai. Chinese champion Wu Minxia insisted she was no “diving queen” after scooping yet another world title, and said she just wanted to be known as humble “Sister Xia” instead.

Wu, 25, made light of the retirement of her legendary partner, Guo Jingjing, to take the world aquatics championships’ first gold medal on Saturday with her new 3-meter springboard synchro teammate, He Zi.

But Wu, who claimed her fifth world title at the event, said she did not want to inherit the “diving queen” title of Guo, the 10-time world champion who retired in January. “We do not attach too much importance to status and I don’t want to say that I will be No. 1 in the team,” Wu said. “We just want to make more effort and achieve better performances.”

But she said she had a special place in the team and was proud to be a role model to younger team members. “As you know, I am the oldest girl in the women’s team, so I’m playing the role of big sister and the team members call me sister Xia,” she said.

He, 20, confirmed Wu’s unique role in the team. “We have worked together for more than a year and I believe so far we have worked out quite well,” she said. “Also, I look up to sister Xia as my role model. I want to learn from her.”

Agence France-Presse