China aims for Diving domination

LONCAT INDAH INDONESIA - China will bid to go one better than four years ago and claim all the medals in the Olympic Games Diving pool over the next fortnight as events begin in the Aquatics Centre.

At Beijing 2008, only Matthew Mitcham denied them a home clean sweep after the Australian upset the odds to win in the men's 10m Platform.

It is in the same event that China face the toughest test to win all eight gold medals on offer - a feat they managed at last year's World Championships.

World champion Qiu Bo is the man to beat on the highest board but he faces stiff competition from GB hopeful Tom Daley, who is set to be spurred on by a 17,500-strong crowd at the Aquatics Centre.

Daley enters the Games in career-best form after being crowned World Series and European champion in the past six months, while he has also twice improved his personal best to cut the gap behind first-time Olympian Bo.

While the 18-year-old still believes he is fighting for silver behind Bo, Daley hinted that his experience of competing in Beijing could prove a decisive factor.

'Normally in Diving, silver is gold because the Chinese dominate everything,' said Daley, who beat Bo to win the world title in 2009. 'But you never know what can happen in the Olympic Games.'

Competition begins on Sunday when Wu Minxia will bid to equal fellow Chinese Guo Jingjing's Olympic Games record of six Diving medals.

Wu will aim for a hat-trick of successes in the women's 3m Synchro alongside He Zi, before they will go head-to-head next week in the individual event.

Canada's Emilie Heymans looks to be their biggest threat as she aims to become the first woman to win a medal at four consecutive Games.

Chen Ruolin is being tipped to defend her individual and synchro platform Olympic titles after also claiming both world crowns last year in Shanghai.

In the men's competitions, He Chong and Qin Kai are expected to continue the dominance on the springboard but it is in the 10m Platform where China's hopes of a perfect record are most vulnerable.

In the synchro competition, which takes place on Monday, teenage first-time Olympians Zhang Yanquan and Cao Yuan will bid to fend off a strong field.

The duo did not compete at last year's World Championships to offer hopes for the likes of runners-up Patrick Hausding and Sacha Klein, from Germany, while Daley will team up with 2004 Olympic silver medallist Pete Waterfield.

The Diving competition will then finish on the penultimate day of the Games with the much-anticipated clash between Bo and Daley set to be further enhanced by the recently-returned Mitcham, who has been sidelined by injury for the past couple of years

Gold for Chinese pair

Chinese pairing Cao Yuan and Zhang Yanquan claimed victory in the Synchronised 10m Platform final.

LONCAT INDAH INDONESIA - Mexico's German Sanchez and Ivan Garcia Navarro took silver ahead of Nick McCrory and David Boudia of the USA, who took bronze.

The USA pair had an 8.82 gap over Great Britain pair Tom Daley and Pete Waterfield, who finished fourth.

The British duo had led the competition at the halfway mark but, despite being roared on by a vocal Host Nation support that included Prime Minister David Cameron, they faded thereafter.

A couple of errors, most notably on their reverse three-and-a-half somersaults dive, dropped them out of the podium places.

Olimpiade 2012: Hat-trick for Wu

China's Wu Minxia secured her place in Olympic history with a hat-trick of Synchronised 3m Springboard titles alongside He Zi at today's opening Diving event at the Aquatics Centre.

LONCAT INDAH INDONESIA-Wu cemented her place as one of the greatest female divers of all time as she also drew level with former synchro partner Guo Jingjing, who she teamed up with to win the past two Olympic crowns, with a record six medals at the Games.

The 26-year-old could surpass that mark next week, when she and He go head-to-head in the Individual 3m Springboard.

On Day 2 they were comfortable winners, leading after all five rounds to finish with a gap of 24.30 from nearest rivals Abigail Johnston and Kelci Bryant from USA.

Canada's Emilie Heymans and Jennifer Abel took bronze to ensure Heymans became the first diver to win a medal at four consecutive Olympics.

Home duo Becky Gallantree and Alicia Blagg of Great Britain had to be content with seventh place in the eight-team final as errors cost them after being fourth after two rounds.

Grimsey (AUS) and Nunez (ESP) win Capri-Napoli race (ITA)

Lausanne (SUI), LONCAT INDAH INDONESIA-June 18, 2012 - About 30 swimmers from 15 countries braved the 36km race as part of the fourth stage of the FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix 2012 on June 17.

Australia’s Trent Grimsey emerged from a fiercely competitive field to win in 6h29m32s, ahead of locals Edoardo Stochino, second in a time of 6h32m46s and Andrea Volpini, third with 6h36m04s. It is a nice result for all the three as they celebrated their first podium of the 2012 Grand Prix circuit.

A tough race also unfolded among women with Esther Nunez (ESP, third in Race 2) surging for the win and touching the wall in a time of 7h08m02s. Russia’s Anna Uvarova (second in Race 1 and first in Race 2) made another trip to the podium after clocking 7h19m49s and continues to secure her overall lead in the Grand Prix season. Silvie Ribarova’s (CZE) bronze medal finish was also a positive discovery (7h20m54s).

FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix 2012 calendar:
Race 1: January 22 in Rosario (ARG, 15km)
Race 2: January 29 in Santa Fe-Coronda (ARG, 57km)
Race 3: April 26 in Cancun (MEX, 15km)
Race 4: June 17 in Capri-Napoli (ITA, 36km)
NEXT RACE: July 28 in Lac St-Jean (CAN, 32km)
Race 6: August 4 in Lac Magog (CAN, 34km)
Race 7: August 5 in Sabac (SRB, 19km)
Race 8: August 11 in Ohrid Lake (MKD, 33km)

(fina)

Cuban duo spoils China’s bid for a golden sweep in Madrid (ESP)

Lausanne (SUI), LONCAT INDAH INDONESIA - 101 divers from the current and up-and-coming elite, representing 20 nations, were on hand for the fourth leg of the FINA Diving Grand Prix 2012, organised from June 15-17. Cubans Jose Guerra/Jeinkler Aguirre captured gold in the men’s 10m platform synchro, the only non-Chinese victory of the meet. Divers from Australia, France, Italy, Mexico, Spain and Ukraine also climbed the podium in the Spanish capital.

In the women’s competition, China easily prevailed with Wang Han reclaiming gold after her success in Fort Lauderdale (USA, meet No3) in the 3m springboard with a total 360.90 points, ahead of teammate Liu Jiao (second) and Laura Sanchez from Mexico (third). Han paired with Zheng Qulin to win the synchro same event, beating the Australians and Ukrainians, second and third, respectively. In the 10m platform, Si Yajie (CHN) also repeated her gold medal finish from the American stop, topping the standings with 395.15 points. Compatriot Liu Jiao picked up silver while Melissa Wu from Australia took the bronze. Huixia, together with Zhu Jiaming, were the best in the synchro event. The Australian (second) and Mexican (third) pairs completed the podium.

Among men, Peng Jianfeng (CHN) performed brilliantly in the 3m springboard and emerged victorious with a total 495.20. Frenchman Matthieu Rosset was second and local hope Javier Illana, third. In the synchro event, China remained strong, leaving the second and third spots for France and Italy. In the 10m platform, Chen Aisen won in stunning fashion with 536.20 points, successfully holding at bay silver and bronze medallists, Yang Jian (CHN, 507.95) and Jeinkler Aguirre (CUB, 467.70). In the synchro event, the Cubans proved too strong for the Chinese, snatching the title while silver went to Mexico and China had to settle for the bronze.

The last meet of the FINA Diving Grand Prix 2012 will be held in Bolzano (ITA) from June 22-24.

MEDALLISTS IN MADRID (ESP)
Men
3m springboard: 1. Peng Jianfeng (CHN) 495.20; 2. Matthieu Rosset (FRA) 487.90; 3. Javier Illana (ESP) 466.25
10m platform: 1. Chen Aisen (CHN) 536.20; 2. Yang Jian (CHN) 507.95; 3. Jeinkler Aguirre (CUB) 467.70
3m springboard synchro: 1. Li Shixin/He Chao (CHN) 433.14; 2. Damien Cely/Matthieu Rosset (FRA) 412.17; 3. Nicola Marconi/Tommaso Marconi (ITA) 392.61
10m platform synchro: 1. Jose Guerra/Jeinkler Aguirre (CUB) 435.12; 2. Ivan Garcia/German Sanchez (MEX) 432.24; 3. Chen Aisen/Yang Jian (CHN) 428.10

Women
3m springboard: 1. Wang Han (CHN) 360.90; 2. Liu Jiao (CHN) 350.40; 3. Laura Sanchez (MEX) 331.95
10m platform: 1. Si Yajie (CHN) 395.15; 2. Liu Huixia (CHN) 392.30; 3. Melissa Wu (AUS) 353.35
3m springboard synchro: 1. Wang Han/Zheng Qulin (CHN) 306.30; 2. Anabelle Smith/Sharleen Stratton (AUS) 293.58 ; 3. Anastasiya Nedobiga/Viktoriya Kesar (UKR) 276.45
10m platform synchro: 1. Liu Huixia/Zhu Jiaming (CHN) 337.86; 2. Loudy Wiggins/Rachel Bugg (AUS) 285.69; 3. Carla Rivas/Monica Marquez (MEX) 266.88

SEA Swim - Men's 3m Springboard and Women's Platform

SEA Swimming Championships 2012 Results

RESULTS

Men 3m Springboard

1 352.80 Jamjami, Akhmad Sukran (1984) --Indonesia

2 316.65 Chew, Yi Wei (1995) --Malaysia

3 298.40 Nazreen, Muhammad (1998) --Malaysia

4 285.80 Andriyan (1994) -- Indonesia

5 271.30 Lee, Timothy (1994) -- Singapore

6 226.80 Lee, Mark (1994) – Singapore

Women Platform

1 277.35 Kam, Ling Kar (1995) --Malaysia

2 250.50 Loh, Zhia Yi (1997) --Malaysia

3 222.50 Dinarsari, Della (1990) --Indonesia

Men Synchronised 3m Springboard

1 309.66 , Andriyan (1994) + Jamjami, Akhmad Sukran (1984) --Indonesia

2 304.05 Danial, Muhammad (1997) + Nazreen, Muhammad (1998) --Malaysia

3 291.18 Lee, Mark (1994) + Lee, Timothy (1994) --Singapore

Women Synchronised 3m Springboard

1 245.43 Lai, Jasmine Pui Yee + Kam, Ling Kar (1995) --Malaysia

2 233.16 Fong, Kay Yian (1996) + Lee, Myra (1994) --Singapore

3 232.62 Ambarwati, Sari (1990) + Dinda, Maria Natalie (1994) --Indonesia

Women 3m Springboard

1 240.75 Dhabitah, Nur (1999) --Malaysia

2 237.70 Ambarwati, Sari (1990) --Indonesia

3 224.45 Chin, Adeline Wei Ling (1999) --Malaysia

4 221.65 Fong, Kay Yian (1996) --Singapore

5 199.25 Lee, Myra (1994) --Singapore

6 191.95 Dinda, Maria Natalie (1994) --Indonesia

Men Platform

1 315.60 Nazreen, Muhammad (1998) --Malaysia

2 295.35 Chan, Jonathan (1997) --Singapore

Men 1m Springboard

1 299.00 Chew, Yi Wei (1995) --Malaysia

2 281.20 Lee, Timothy (1994) --Singapore

3 268.65 Lee, Mark (1994) --Singapore

4 267.55 Luthfi, Niko A. (1995) --Indonesia

5 258.80 Danial, Muhammad (1997) --Malaysia

Women 1m Springboard

1 220.20 Dhabitah, Nur (1999) --Malaysia

2 206.65 Chin, Adeline Wei Ling (1999) --Malaysia

3 188.65 Fong, Kay Yian (1996) --Singapore

4 187.70 Lee, Myra (1994) --Singapore

5 166.95 Setyaningsih, Dewi (1996) --Indonesia