US diver defeats China for last diving gold

LONDON - American world silver medalist David Boudia defeated China's world champion Qiu Bo in the men's 10m platform final to win the last diving gold at London Games on Saturday.

The London Aquatics Center has seen the most dramatic and breathtaking battle of the 14-day diving competitions. The winner has not been decided until the last round.

Gold medallist David Boudia of the US poses on the podium with silver medallist Qiu Bo (L) of China and bronze medallist Tom Daley (R) of Britain during the men's 10m platform victory ceremony at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Center, Aug 11, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

The leading position exchanged between Boudia, Qiu and British home favorite Tom Daley in the close competitions.

Daley, cheered on by a capacity crowd, succeeded in competing under pressure. He staged a perfect fourth and fifth dives after which he came from fourth to top among the 12 finalists.

Qiu and Boudia tied in second place behind Daley before the last decisive dives.

It was Boudia, also bronze medalist in the synchro platform event at London Games, who survived the last round to taste sweet victory.

He staged a near flawless sixth dive - a difficult back two-and-a-half somersault and two-and-a-half twists in pike position - to achieve the highest scores of the final in 102.60 points, 1.8 points clear over Qiu who executed the same last dive with him in 100.80.

Boudia compiled a total of 568.65 points to beat Qiu to second place.

Daley, who bore the British hope for a historical diving Olympic medal, also had a satisfactory last dive - but less difficult than the ones of Boudia and Qiu - to pocket the bronze medal in 556.95 points.

The loss to Boudia marks the first failure Qiu encountered in recent two years. The 19-year-old has been dominant on the World Series since 2010 in both 10m platform and synchro platform.

China's Qiu Bo reacts after winning the silver medal in the men's 10m platform final at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Center, Aug 11, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

Qiu, tipped as the overwhelming favorite in the event, led both of the preliminaries and semifinal as the top qualifier. He was very sad and disappointed with the result and wept after the games.

"Boudia had a convincing triumph over me today. I have gone through so many matches before but this one (platform final) was the most tense one which made me extremely nervous," said Qiu.

On the contrary, Boudia and Daley were thrilled for their medals. Boudia's teammates jumped to the diving pool to cheer for his success. Daley trapped himself with a British flag, kissing his medal and flashing giant grins for the photographers.

Another Chinese diver Lin Yue, who was second qualifier behind Qiu into the final, failed in his fourth dive and finished sixth place in the final.

Defending Olympic champion Aussie Matthew Mitcham, who struggled with injuries since Beijing Games, failed to make the final as he was the 13th in the semifinal outside the top 12 qualifiers.

It is the last event of the two-week-long diving competitions at London Games. The Chinese "Dream Team" of divers has become the biggest winner with six out of the eight gold medals.