BEIJING, Jan. 18 -- A champion many times over, Guo Jingjing has become the "World's No.1 Princess in Diving."

Guo Jingjing, lowing her head to shun Paparazzis' cameras, walks together with Huo Qigang, reportedly her beau who led to her break-up with Tian Liang, in Hong Kong January 13, 2005.(sohu photo)

    However, rumors have circulated that Guo's name was not included on the concentration-training list of the China National Diving Team for the 2008 Olympics, as, instead, her beautiful close-up photos have popped up over the cosmetics counters in Chinese shopping malls.

    As people marvel at Guo's remarkable change from gold medallist to sexy star, they also learn various tidbits about her through the sports and entertainment pages of newspapers.

    They have begun to worry about Guo, wondering if her sports career will soon come to an end and whether she will be able to cope with financial temptations.

    In the Entertainment Hurricane

    Certainly, Guo possesses all the prerequisite commercial elements of a star: Olympic-championship crowns, charming appearance, intelligence, and, of course, news value.

    After the September celebrations for Chinese gold medallists in the Athens Olympics, Guo's name went far from newspapers' sports pages and frequently appeared in the top headlines of entertainment pages.

    Guo began to show up on various commercial occasions, making herself one of the most sought-after targets of the paparazzi. To respond the public's veiled words on her commercial activities, Guo said she had been on vacation. 

    According to Li Hua, director of the China National Swimming Administrative Center, the diving team has called Guo back and agreed on specific restrictions and management for her commercial activities, which exclude the commercial advertisements contracted by the center itself. Li has admitted Guo's "over-participation in commercial activities" in the past.

    To explain why Guo was not included on the concentration-training list, Li said that was because "she asked the team for a period of relaxation."

    "Guo is still a member of the national team for sure," he said.