Diving diva soars to greatness

By Lei Lei (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-18 08:08

Guo Jingjing showers after a dive yesterday. AFP

Her sixth Olympic medal, her fourth gold.

In winning the women's 3m springboard finals yesterday, China's diving Queen Guo Jingjing has become the most decorated female diver in history.

She surpassed the five medals of her predecessor Fu Mingxia, and tied Fu's four-gold haul.

"I was fully prepared for the competition. I'm very happy to win and I'm satisfied with the result," said a calm Guo after the victory.

"Fu is a very successful diver."

In the final, Guo produced five consistent dives to claim the gold with 415.35 points. Russian veteran Julia Pakhalina claimed the silver with 398.60, followed by Guo's team-mate Wu Minxia with 389.85.

Guo and Pakhalina had solid opening dives and were tied on 81 points. But the Russian made a poor second dive, and Guo opened up a nine-point lead.

Her third dive won her the highest score of the day, 88.35, and extended her lead to 17 points.

Pakhalina made up seven points after her fourth dive, but Guo sealed victory with a flawless fifth dive, scoring 85.50.

"Today is an important moment in my life, since I won the Olympic gold on home soil," said the 26-year-old.

"I held on for four years after the Athens Games and overcame many difficulties. I've proved myself again."

Born in Baoding of Hebei province, Guo started diving at 7, and made it to the Chinese national team in 1992 when she was 11.

At 15, she made her Olympic debut in the 1996 Atlanta Games, but finished only fifth in the 10m platform.

Four years later, she won two silvers in Sydney and followed up with her first Olympic gold in Athens 2004 - the 3m synchronized springboard with Wu.

She also finally won her first individual gold, also in the 3m springboard.

"I spent all my life diving and it is the most important part of my life," she said. "I learned a lot from it and grew more mature."

(China Daily 08/18/2008 page10)