She made a name for herself as a freshman, consistently performing as one of the Jayhawks' top divers and one of the best divers in the Big 12 Conference.
Now, with a full season of success and experience already under her belt, KU sophomore Shiyun Lai is at it again.
Earlier this week, Lai was named the Big 12 Diver of the Week for the fourth time this season. That set a new program record and further established Lai as one to watch in the world of swimming and diving as the KU and Big 12 seasons roll on.
Her fourth such honor moved her past former KU diver and Big 12 champion Kate Steward, who earned Big 12 Diver of the Week recognition three times during the 2021-22 season.
Lai has now been named Big 12 Diver of the Week five times in her career.
More specifically, Lai, who hails from Guangdong Province, China, earned her fourth nod for taking first place in the 3-meter dive event, with a score of 340.05, at the Jayhawks' recent dual meet at Arkansas on Jan. 24. She also finished second in the 1-meter event at the same meet with a mark of 309.53.
Lai made waves last season — literally and figuratively — by bringing her competitive drive and elite talent to KU and performing right away. Her childhood back in China was full of competition, and she was driven at a young age to strive to be the best she could.
That put her on a great path to success as a Jayhawk
It wasn't always easy, but, as KU diving coach Allen Feng told us last season, “It’s the typical way in China for sports team coaches to go to elementary schools and pick kids that look talented. At some point, you reach an intersection where you give up or keep going. And she chose to keep going.”
Her top scores in her three main events — 1m, 3m and platform — all came at last year's Big 12 Championships, where she set PRs in all three events and won the 3-meter dive with a score of 406.20.
Her best score to date in the 1-meter event is 340.45 and her top mark on the platform is 252.0
Lai took 14th at nationals last season in both the 1m and 3m and earned second-team and honorable mention All-American honors after being named the top Big 12 newcomer at the Big 12 meet.
Next up, Lai and the Jayhawks will welcome Iowa State to town on Feb. 7, at Robinson Natatorium. The meet will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Kansas Women's Swimming and Diving and recognize National Girls and Women in Sports Day.
— For tickets to all KU athletic events, visit kuathletics.com
