China's Shi Tingmao and Wu Minxia dive to win gold during the women's synchronized 3m springboard final at the Aquatics World Championships in Kazan, Russia, July 25, 2015. [Photo by Stefan Wermuth/Reuters]

"I broke my feet on the land. I had waist injury, and suffered from long-time lower than normal hemachrome. I could not finish a normal training session like others. It was too hard that I almost wanted to give up," Wu recalled.

It was Wu's coach and team manager Zhou Jihong who encouraged her and boosted her confidence.

"I really want to achieve my goal - to compete in Rio Olympic Games and pass all the qualification events," Wu said.

Wu, 29 years and 284 days old, can become the third oldest female diver to claim a world title in any event, after Russians Irina Lashko (30-170, 2003) and Yulia Pakhalina (31-310, 2009).