Aussie Diver Stops China's Streak
From the Associated Press:
Matthew Mitcham of Australia, earning four perfect 10s on his last dive, won the men's 10-meter platform in an upset Saturday night that prevented China from sweeping the eight Olympic diving gold medals.
Mitcham totaled 537.95 points in the six-dive final, edging Zhou Luxin of China by 4.80 points, and sending the platform title Down Under for the first time. He's the first Aussie man since 1924 to win a diving gold, and just the third Aussie ever.
Zhou, who had a crooked entry on his last dive, took the silver with 533.15 points. Gleb Galperin of Russia earned the bronze with 525.80.
Zhou's teammate, Huo Liang, finished fourth.
American David Boudia was 10th and teammate Thomas Finchum 12th, the second consecutive Olympic medals shutout in diving for the United States.
The Chinese went 7-for-8 at the Water Cube, claiming 11 of the 24 medals awarded in the sport that has produced the host nation's most Olympic medals.
Zhou led through the first five rounds, earning three 10s on his next-to-last dive. But the 20-year-old from Beijing entered the water crookedly on his final dive, scoring 74.80 points and leaving an opening for Mitcham, who followed him on the tower.
The Aussie hit the toughest dive anyone did all night -- a backward 261/27 somersault with 261/27 twists -- for 112.10 points, including four 10s.
Mitcham got out of the water and dropped to his knees, holding his face in his hands. Teammate Mathew Helm rushed up to hug him. A small group of yellow wig-wearing Aussie fans exploded in cheers, and Chinese volunteers had to tell them to sit down for the last diver.
That was Huo, who also did the tough dive with a 3.8 degree of difficulty, but scored 85.50 points. Zhou went with a conservative list through the preliminaries, semifinals and final, never attempting the back 261/27 somersault with 261/27 twists that Galperin and Boudia also performed.
By
Tracee Hamilton
|
August 23, 2008; 10:08 AM ET
| Category:
Diving
Previous: Russian Wins Heavyweight Gold |
Next: Rogge: We Want Major Leaguers
Posted by: royger | August 23, 2008 10:55 AM
I should like to point out that Matthew Mitcham is incredibly beautiful and openly gay.
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | August 23, 2008 10:58 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.
it is real a pity that chinese fail to get a perfect win