Matthew Mitcham of Australia, earning four perfect 10s on his last dive, won the men’s 10m platform in an upset last night that prevented China from sweeping the eight Olympic diving gold medals.
Mitcham totaled 537.95 points in the six-dive final, edging Zhou Luxin of China by 4.80 points and winning the platform title for Australia for the first time. He is the first Aussie man since 1924 to win a diving gold and just the third Aussie ever.
Zhou, who had a crooked entry on his last dive, took the silver with 533.15 points. Gleb Galperin of Russia earned the bronze with 525.80.
PHOTO: AFP
Zhou’s teammate, Huo Liang, finished fourth.
The Chinese went seven-for-seven at the Water Cube, claiming 11 of the 24 medals awarded in the sport that has produced the host nation’s most Olympic medals.
Zhou led through the first five rounds, earning three 10s on his next-to-last dive. But the 20-year-old from Beijing entered the water crookedly on his final dive, scoring 74.80 points and leaving an opening for Mitcham, who followed him on the tower.
The Aussie hit the toughest dive anyone did all night — a backward two-and-a-half somersault with two-and-a-half twists — for 112.10 points, including four 10s.
Mitcham got out of the water and dropped to his knees, holding his face in his hands. Teammate Mathew Helm rushed up to hug him and a small group of yellow wig-wearing Aussie fans exploded into cheers.
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