Fri, Aug 03, 2012 page18

• London 2012 Olympics: Qin, Luo continue Chinese sweep

  • AFP, LONDON
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  China’s Qin Kai and Luo Yutong won the men’s 3m synchronized springboard gold medal on Wednesday to make it four Chinese victories from four diving events at the London Olympics.

  Qin and Luo tallied 477.00 points from their six dives to win from Russia’s Ilya Zakharov and Evgeny Kuznetsov, who took silver, and the US pairing of Kristian Ipsen and Troy Dumais, who finished with the bronze.

  Having won seven out of eight diving events when they staged the Beijing Games four years ago, China are on course for a Games clean sweep, having won all 10 diving golds at the world aquatic championships last year.

  

  China’s Luo Yutong, left, and Qin Kai compete in the men’s synchronized 3m springboard diving competition at the Aquatics Centre in London on Wednesday.

  Photo: AFP

  Qin, who retained the Olympic title he won alongside partner Wang Feng in Beijing, said he was delighted to continue China’s domination.

  “I think Chinese divers have done a great job so far, we have four golds now and they all came with perfect performances,” said the 26-year-old, who also won bronze in the individual competition four years ago.

  The Russian pair explained how they both dipped their medals in the pool at the Aquatic Centre after leaving the dais to bring more luck to their compatriots in the swimming and diving events.

  “We are really pleased to get silver, it’s a great feeling,” said Zakharov, who along with partner Kuznetsov won world silver behind the Chinese in Shanghai last year.

  Ipsen and Dumais collected the US’ third diving medal in three days.

  “There are no regrets, we didn’t watch the scoreboard and we just focused on ourselves,” said 32-year-old Dumais, who claimed his first Olympic medal at his fourth Games, with 19-year-old Ipsen making his debut in London.

  After David Boudia and Nicholas McCrory of the US won bronze on Monday in the men’s 10m synchronized dive, Kelci Bryant and Abigail Johnston took silver on Tuesday in the women’s synchronized 3m springboard.

  “It’s really been a dream. I competed in Sydney and at Athens with my brother, which didn’t go so well, so this medal is also for him,” Dumais said.

  “I think all three USA pairings are enjoying their Olympic experience, it is great to have taken three medals from three events,” he said.

  Reigning world champions Luo and Qin led from the first round and stamped their authority with an impressive forward 4.5 somersault with a tuck on their fifth dive, which earned them 104.88 points.

  Their final dive scored only 89.10, but it was still more than enough to make it four from four in the diving pool for China as they finished 17 points clear of the field — a considerable margin in diving.
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