Five times Olympic gold medalist Wu Minxia, one of China’s greatest ever female divers, has announced her retirement on social media, citing her 'physical condition'. "Now, though reluctantly, it's time to leave," the 31-year-old said on her Weibo account on Thursday.

As she announced her retirement, thousands of fans went to her Weibo page to say goodbye and good luck. 

"The story of Chinese diving didn't start with me and it won't end with me," Wu said in an emotional online statement.

Wu's three-metre synchronized springboard gold, with partner Shi Tingmao, at the Rio de Janeiro Games in August made her the oldest woman to win an Olympic diving gold medal.

Now the athlete has claimed five golds in four Olympics. 

She made her Olympic debut at Athens 2004 when she was 19, and since then has won all four gold medals in the women’s three-metre synchronized springboard in Beijing, London and at her final games in Rio.

The diver also made Olympic history by winning the most Olympic medals in diving with five golds, one silver, and one bronze, according to Guinness World Records.