"Diving Queen" Guo Jingjing and World Cup rookie He Chong bagged
two golds for China on the first day of competition at the FINA
Diving World Cup in Changshu, Jiangsu Province yesterday.
In the women's one-meter springboard event, 24-year-old Guo
lived up to expectations by taking the gold with 323.70 points,
followed by compatriot Wu Minxia who finished with 301.10 points.
Canadian veteran Blythe Hartley was placed third with 300.25
points.
Guo Jingjing (R) and Wu Minxia
World and Olympics champion Guo had to play catch-up as Hartley
led the field of 12 finalists in the first two rounds.
Hartley, 24, is a specialist on the one-meter springboard,
having been crowned twice in the event at the World Aquatic
Championships in 2001 and 2005.
However, Guo bounced back into competition on her third dive,
taking the top spot she didn't relinquish.
"I'm happy with my performance tonight," Guo said, "and I'm
happy to see so many people supporting me."
He Chong eased to victory in the same event for men with 505.65
points, followed by He's teammate Luo Yutong with 445.55 points.
Chris Colwill from the US grabbed the bronze with a total score of
423.85 points.
He Chong
He, 19, who won a gold in the three-meter springboard
synchronized event with Wang Feng at the 2005 World Aquatic
Championships in Montreal, Canada, led the field from the
start.
Although a poorly executed fourth dive -- a reverse
two-and-a-half somersault -- only earned him 72 points, his lowest
score of the evening, He convinced the judges otherwise with his
last two dives, receiving 90.00 points and 96.90 points
respectively.
"I didn't spend much time training on the one-meter springboard,
so I think I performed well enough tonight," He said later.
He will also compete today in the men's three-meter springboard
event. He's touted to win since world champion Alexandre Despatie
of Canada has had to miss the World Cup due to injury.
Vying for the women's 10-meter platform title today are 2003
world champion Emilie Heymans of Canada, and 2005 world champion
Laura Wilkinson from the US.
(Xinhua News Agency July 20, 2006)
