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Olympic Diving Recaps: 31 July (Day 12)

Women's 3m Springboard / Final

FU's Gold Ties DIBIASI

FU Mingxia (CHN) returned to the championship podium as victor of the women's 3m springboard. FU entered the final round of five dives in the fourth position behind Irina LASHKO (RUS), the silver medalist in Barcelona, by 13.02 points. FU dominated the competition completing a 48.51 point swing, to claim her first gold medal in springboard competition. FU also won the 10m platform competition. FU tallied 547.68 points. LASHKO settled for silver with 512.19 points and Annie PELLETIER (CAN) collected the bronze with 509.64 points.

Given the nickname "Air FU" by her teammates, her victory also raised her to a new level in diving competition. Her "Fu-ness" became the first woman in 40 years to win both the 10m platform and 3m springboard competition in the same year. The last diver to achieve this feat was Ingrid KRAMER (GDR) in 1960. FU also collects her third gold medal and joins Klaus DIBIASI (ITA) for second on the all-time list. At age 18, a return to Olympic diving in Sydney is not out of the question. One more gold medal and she will join Greg LOUGANIS (USA) and Pat MCCORMICK (USA) as the only divers in history to capture four Olympic championships.

Medalists: FU Mingxia (CHN); Irina LASHKO (RUS); Annie PELLETIER (CAN).


Women's 3m Springboard Semifinals

ILYINA Leads Top 12 into Finals

A pair of Russian divers and a 14-year old from Sweden top the list of 12 qualifiers for Wednesday night's 3m springboard final. Vera ILYINA (RUS) will take a commanding lead in the final five dives. Her semifinal total was 230.19 points for a two round total of 539.07. Chasing her in the second position is Sweden's Anna LINDBERG (SWE), competing in her first Olympic Games, LINDBERG tallied 220.29 points in the semifinals for a total of 512.31. In the third position is Irina LASHKO (RUS), the silver medalist in Barcelona, with 506.43 points. FU Mingxia (CHN) the 1996 10m platform gold medalist is in the fourth position at 505.77. Fu is attempting to become the first woman to win gold medals in both the 10m platform and 3m springboard in the same year since 1960. American divers Melisa MOSES and Jenny KEIM are sitting in the sixth and seventh positions respectively.

Finals will begin at 22:00 Wednesday.

Top Qualifiers: Vera ILYINA (RUS), 539.07; Anna LINDBERG (SWE), 512.31; Irina LASHKO (RUS), 506.43; FU Mingxia (CHN), 505.77.


This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department.


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