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| China's gold medalist Chen Ruolin celebrates on the podium of the diving women's 10m platform final event at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing on August 21, 2008. [Agencies] |
China recaptured the women's 10m platform title at Beijing Olympic Games as teenager diver Chen Ruolin claimed the gold on August 21.
Chen, 15, newly crowned 10m platform synchro champion with partner Wang Xin, snatched the gold in 447.70 points, while Emilie Heymans of Canada took the silver in 437.05.
Chen Ruolin of China competes in the women's 10m platform diving semi-final at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, August 21, 2008. [Agencies]
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Wang, 16, winner of the event in Melbourne World Championships in 2007, took the bronze in 429.90.
Heymans, winner of the event in 2003 Barcelona World Championships, once surpassed Chen to top the final in the fourth round, but Chen made an almost perfect dive in the last round to secure the gold, which scored 100.30, the highest score in the final.
China lost the gold in previous two Olympic Games. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, American diving icon Laura Wilkinson won the gold, while Chinese diver Li Na took the silver. At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Australian Chantelle Newbery surprisingly defeated Chinese favourite Lao Lishi to win the title, leaving Lao the second.
The 15-year-old Chen, silver medalist of the event in 2007 Melbourne Worlds, has been having a good year. The teenager claimed the gold in the event in 2008 World Cup on February, and her margin of victory was more than 44 points.
Wang, who just celebrated her 16th birthday on August 11, one day before she won the 10m platform synchro gold, has always trailed Chen in major competitions after 2007 Melbourne Worlds.
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| Chen Ruolin of China (L) is hugged by coaching staff after winning gold in the women's 10m platform diving at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 21, 2008. [Agencies] |
Wilkinson, the Sydney Olympic champion, finished the ninth in 311.80. Wilkinson has announced her retirement after the Beijing Games.
Paola Espinosa, the flag bearer for Mexico, finished the fourth in 380.95.
Australian 16-year-old Melissa Wu, silver medalist of the 10m platform synchro with partner Briony Cole, finished the sixth in 338.15. Wu made her international debut just two years ago and has already snatched one gold and one silver in this event at Grand Prix circuits this season.
China expects to make a clean sweep in the Water Cube at home land. They swept all eight golds in the last meet of the FINA Diving Grand Prix in Rome earlier in July.
Now in the Beijing Games, China has collected the first seven gold.
China has undisputed domination in diving. The Chinese diving team claimed five golds at 2000 Sydney Olympics and further took a record six at 2004 Athens Olympics, contributing more Olympic golds for China than other Chinese teams.