SAOUTINE Holds Narrow Lead Over Chinese Heading Into Semifinals
Dmitri SAOUTINE of the Russian Federation stood alone Thursday night against the red tide that has threatened to sweep over the diving competition at the Centennial Olympic Games. SAOUTINE dove steadily, sometimes spectacularly, and forged out a narrow lead over XIAO Hailiang of the People's Republic of China entering Saturday's semifinal round of the men's 10m platform competition at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center.
SAOUTINE, who finished fifth in Monday's springboard competition, finished his six preliminary dives with a total of 425.73. XIAO stood at 445.86. TIAN Liang, also of China, is third at 425.73. China has already captured the gold medal in both the women's springboard and platform as well as the men's springboard at these Games. A Chinese victory in the men's platform would complete a clean sweep by one nation in the Olympic Games for the first time since the United States accomplished the feat in Helsinki in 1952.
SAOUTINE took the lead on the second of six dives by executing an inward 3 1/2 somersault that drew eights and nines from the judges. The 22-year-old Russian held the lead through four dives before a missed reverse 3 1/2 sommersault in round five allowed TIAN to temporarily regain the lead. But SAOUTINE closed spectacularly, hitting a back 1 1/2 somersault with 3 1/2 twists to score 88.32 points and take the lead. TIAN, meanwhile, badly missed his final dive, scoring just 58.14 points on a reverse 3 1/2 somersault to fall into third place.
SAOUTINE's teammate, Vladimir TIMOSHININ, is fourth at 425.43. Patrick JEFFREY and David PICHLER of the United States stand fifth and sixth, respectively. The field of 38 divers was cut to the top 18 for Friday morning's semifinals. After the semifinals, the field will be reduced to the top 12 competitors for Friday evening's final. Unlike in past Olympic Games, all scores are cumulative.
Results after preliminaries: 1. Dmitri SAOUTINE (RUS) 452.82. 2. XIAO Hailiang (CHN) 445.86. 3. TIAN Liang (CHN) 425.73.
"Tonight was a wonderful experience,'' said 31-year-old U.S. diver Patrick JEFFREY, a 1988 Olympian who is competing in his second Games and stands fifth after the platform preliminaries. "It's like I've gotten a second chance and I'm seeing things through the eyes of an adult instead of a little kid.''
Return to the Olympic News Menu
Select another day:
Pre | July | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | August | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Post |
| An estimated 5.3 million visted Centennial Olympic Park between opening day - 13 July - and closing day - 4 August, making the park the most single most visited Olympic site during the Games. |