China’s Ni pulls off narrow win in diving

Add as a preferred source on Google

Sydney: China's Xiong Ni pulled off the narrowest and most dramatic of victories on Tuesday to retain his Olympic three-metre springboard diving title as world champion Dmitri Saoutine saw the gold slip from his grasp in the last minutes.

Saoutine, the reigning Olympic highboard champion, had looked invincible as they went into the final round. The 26-year-old Russian led by more than 10 points and appeared set to add an Olympic crown to the world and European titles he already holds.

Mexico's Fernando Platas, who had been third going into that sixth round of final dives, scored a soaring 83.64 points for his last effort and then Saoutine failed to nail his reverse 2- somersaults with 1- twists and pike, netting only 65.10 points to find he had lost the gold.

The pressure was now on Xiong, diving last as the top qualifier from the combination of preliminary round and semi-final scores, but he rose to the occasion and pulled off his concluding inward 3- somersaults with tuck to score 81.60 and pip the Mexican.

Xiong, 26, who came desperately close to beating Greg Louganis in the 1988 platform final and denying the American a record-equalling fourth Olympic diving gold, amassed 708.72 points from the combination of his five semi-final and six final dives.



(c) Reuters Limited.