Gold medalist Guo Jingjing of China poses on the podium after winning the women’s 3m springboard diving final at the World Championships in Rome, Italy, on Tuesday. SD-Agencies
CHINESE diving legend Guo Jingjing reset the record books once again by claiming her fifth straight women’s 3m springboard gold medal at the World Championships in Rome, Italy, on Tuesday.
The result was never in doubt as Guo, who scored a massive 388.20 points, led from start to finish to pick up her ninth world title in all disciplines.
Canada’s Emilie Heymans took second with a score of 346.45 with Tania Cagnotto of host nation Italy taking third place with 341.25 points.
“I performed well. I’m quite satisfied, but there are still many things I could improve on. You should get better in every training session,” she said.
There were reports that this might be her last ever competition, but she refused to be drawn on her future.
“It’s still hard to say whether I will compete at the London Olympics. I will try. As for the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, I don’t know either.
“Don’t put too much pressure on me. I just want to rest now.”
The real battle was on for second position with American Christina Loukas initially holding sway until a poor third dive dropped her to 10th overall.
Heymans produced an excellent third dive to propel her from ninth to second and she never relinquished that position after then.
So the drama came from Cagnotto’s bid to earn the hosts their first medal of this championship and she was helped by China’s He Zi putting in a poor third dive to drop down to seventh.
Cagnotto’s hopes received another boost as both Australian Sharleen Stratton and American Ariel Rittenhouse dropped points on their fourth dives, leaving the Italian third with one dive left.
She held her nerve to score a solid 69.00 on her final effort and that proved enough to finish 4.5 points ahead of He for a podium place.
“Finally a medal. I have been sick for the last three days. I couldn’t stand it any longer, I’ve been dreaming about this bronze medal for a long time,” said an elated Cagnotto.
Guo is one of the most decorated divers of all time and has a record four gold medals from the Olympic Games, matched only by former synchronized partner Fu Minxia and American Greg Louganis.
She has won the 3m springboard and 3m synchronized titles at the last two Olympics (having taken silver at both in Sydney in 2000) and the last four World Championships. She will attempt to win a fifth straight 3m springboard and 3m synchronized double Friday with partner Wu Minxia.
(SD-Agencies)