Chinese divers face challenges in individual events at Beijing Olympics
14/8/2008 17:56
China has asserted its supremacy in synchronized diving at the Beijing
Olympic Games, as it has pocketed all the four gold medals offered in the
synchro events. However, it would be much harder for the host divers to make a
sweep in the individual events.
"We have very strong rivals who are waging
tough fights in the coming individual events," said Zhou Jihong, team leader of
the Chinese diving "dream team."
"Everything is possible at the Olympic
Games, which differ a lot from other competitions," Zhou warned. "We have to go
all out to fight in each event, and never treat them as a piece of cake in
hand."
The most difficult event for the host should be the men's 10m
platform.
The high dive has been a problem for China since the retirement of
Sydney Olympic gold medalist Tian Liang. Meanwhile, Hu Jia, the individual gold
medalist in Athens, was kept out of the squad by injuries.
China lost the
gold in the event at the 2007 Melbourne worlds as Russian Gleb Galperin beat the
Chinese favorite Zhou Luxin and Lin Yue for the title.
It was also the only
gold China lost in the 2008 FINA Diving World Cup as Germany's Klein Sascha was
crowned, who is also in the start list of the 10m platform at these
Games.
Although Chinese teenagers Lin Yue and Huo Liang clinched the synchro
gold on Monday, it could be seen from the final that other divers were all quite
in form.
Galperin, who finished third in Monday's final with partner Kmitriy
Dobroskok, eyes to beat the Chinese again as he did in the 2007 Worlds, while
another arch rival, Sascha Klein, is also in great form as he took the silver in
the synchro platform with Patrick Hausding.
The threat to China may also come
from Cuba's Jose Guerra, winner of the 2007 Pan American Games.
Thomas Daley
of the Great Britain, who turned 14 in May, is also barging into China with
momentum. He became the youngest person ever to win a gold medal in the 10m
Platform at the 2008 European Championships in March. Although his result on the
synchro platform is not good, but the teenager has made up his mind to do a good
job in the individual event.
Zhou Luxin and Lin Yue, runner-up and bronze
medalist of the event respectively in the 2007 Melbourne Worlds, are centered on
great expectations.
In the men's 3m springboard, Qin Kai, winner of the 2007
Melbourne worlds, and He Chong, gold medalist at the 2008 World Cup, are both
hot favorites. And in the men's 3m synchro, Qin Kai has paired with veteran Wang
Feng to pocket the gold in the 2007 Melbourne worlds.
However, they may meet
strong challenges from Russian "diving czar" Sautin and Canadian "golden boy"
Despatie. At 34, Sautin is still a threat to the Chinese divers, as he just took
a silver yesterday's 3m springboard synchro with partner Yuriy Kunakov.
The
diving icon has decided to make a perfect curtain call in Beijing. "It will be
my last Olympics. I will do my best in the individual," said the veteran
yesterday. "We'll see what happens."
In the women's 10m platform, teenager
Wang Xin and Chen Ruolin, winner and runner-up of the 2007 Melbourne worlds, are
no wonder front runners. They won the 10m platform synchro gold on
Tuesday.
But rivals like Melissa Wu of Australia, Paola Espinosa of Mexico,
and Laura Wilkinson of the United States are not giving up.
At 16, Melissa Wu
made a perfect Olympic debut on Tuesday's final, as she took the silver on the
10m platform synchro with partner Briony Cole. Espinosa, Mexico's best diver and
bronze medalist on Tuesday, also expects a good result in the
individual.
Wilkinson, winner of the 10m platform in the Sydney 2000 Olympic
Games, also eyes a medal to finish her diving career.
The women's 3m
springboard might be a little easier compared with other events. 26-year-old Guo
Jingjing, who just won the 3m springboard synchro with fellow Wu Minxia, is no
doubt an overwhelming favorite.
The "diving queen" was the winner of both
individual and synchronized events on the 3m springboard in four consecutive
world championships, from the 2001 Fukuoka Worlds to the 2007 Melbourne
Worlds.
"I don't want to think too much about it," Guo said. "I will just try
and do my best."
The 22-year-old Wu, who often followed Guo in the 3m
springboard competition, including that of the 2004 Athens Olympics and 2007
Melbourne World Championships, is another strong contender for the Beijing Games
title.
China has an undisputed domination in diving. The Chinese diving team
claimed five golds at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and bagged a record six at the
2004 Athens Olympics, contributing more Olympic golds for China than any other
Chinese teams.
The Chinese divers flexed their muscles to sweep all eight
golds during the last meet of the FINA Diving Grand Prix in Rome in June, and
they hope to repeat the feat in the home pool in Beijing.
Xinhua
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