Chong clinches springboard crown
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
BEIJING, Aug. 19: China swept the first six diving gold at Beijing Olympic Games as He Chong won the men's three-meter springboard gold here Tuesday.
He, 21, currently ranked No. 1 of the event in the world, led all the way to collect 572.90 points.
Canadian golden boy Alexandre Despatie, silver medallist of the event in 2004 Athens Olympics, took the silver again in 536.65, while the bronze went to Qin Kai in 530.10.
He, who is famed for commanding a set of difficult dives, also won the gold in the event in the 2008 World Cup on February.
Qin, 22, winner of the event in 2007 Melbourne World Championships, trailed Despatie in the final and tried hard to surpass him, but still failed.
The 23-year-old Canadian also took part in the 3m springboard synchro, but only finished the fifth.
Despatie, also silver medallist in 2007 Melbourne Worlds, has had a difficult year. He fractured his fifth metatarsal of the right foot during a training session in April this year and this hampered his training schedule toward the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
He, 21, currently ranked No. 1 of the event in the world, led all the way to collect 572.90 points.
Canadian golden boy Alexandre Despatie, silver medallist of the event in 2004 Athens Olympics, took the silver again in 536.65, while the bronze went to Qin Kai in 530.10.
He, who is famed for commanding a set of difficult dives, also won the gold in the event in the 2008 World Cup on February.
Qin, 22, winner of the event in 2007 Melbourne World Championships, trailed Despatie in the final and tried hard to surpass him, but still failed.
The 23-year-old Canadian also took part in the 3m springboard synchro, but only finished the fifth.
Despatie, also silver medallist in 2007 Melbourne Worlds, has had a difficult year. He fractured his fifth metatarsal of the right foot during a training session in April this year and this hampered his training schedule toward the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.