August 18, 2008

China's Diving queen reigns supreme


(Beijing, August 17) -- Defending Olympic champion Guo jingjing gave China its fifth Diviing gold of the Olympic Games, winning the Women's 3m Springboard with a score of 415.35 in the final. Julia Pakhalina of Russia, bronze medalist in Athens and gold medalist in Synchronized Springboard in Sydney, finished in second place with 398.60 points. Wu mingxia of China, who won gold with Guo in Synchronized Springboard, finished third with 389.85 points.
Guo won her fourth Olympic gold and her sixth Olympic Medal, breaking Fu Mingxia's record of most Olympic medals by a Chinese female diver. Her score of 415.35 is the highest score ever in the event and her victory extends China's two-decades of Diving dominance – the nation has won the Women's 3m Springboard in six straight Olympic Games. The 27-year-old Chinese diver has previously stated that she will retire after competing in Beijing.
Three-time Olympian Julia Pakhalina, who turns 31 in September, won her fifth Olympic medal with a consistent performance throughout the competition. She finished the semifinals in second-place and was one step behind Guo through the entire final.
Wu Minxia moved into third place after an 85.50-point fourth dive that topped the field. She finished more than 15 points clear of Blythe Hartley of Canada to win her fourth Olympic medal. She finished in second place in Women's Springboard in Athens.

No comments: