Parents Hid Mother's Cancer, Grandparents' Death From Chinese Gold Medalist

(CBS) There have been some odd stories involving the Chinese Olympic team through the years and this one is no different.

Wu Minxia won her third straight gold medal in the three-meter synchronized springboard -- the first diver to ever do that -- and that's when her parents decided to come clean.

Wu's parents informed her that two of her grandparents had died over a year ago and her mother had battled breast cancer for eight years.

The Shanghai Morning Post reported that Wu's parents thought the lies were "essential" to keep their daughter focused on training.

"We never talk about family matters with our daughter," the father said.