China concludes dominant world diving performance

Updated: 2005-07-25 06:43

China didn't win every diving medal at the world swimming championships. It only seemed that way.

The Chinese concluded a dominant week by winning the women's 3-meter synchronized springboard title for their fifth gold medal, and earning a silver in men's 10-meter synchronized on Sunday on the last day of diving.

China earned medals in all 10 of the diving events, winning 12 medals overall and equaling its results at the 2003 world meet in Barcelona.

"They practice much more than anyone else," Germany's Conny Schmalfuss said. "We don't even dare think about beating them."

China's showing was a continuation of its dominance at the Athens Olympics, where the Chinese won six of eight medals.

In Montreal, they relied on veterans like Guo Jingjing, Wu Min Xia and He Chong while introducing a new group of youngsters who could help the country sweep the diving events when it hosts the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"There's going to be a lot of pressure for them," Schmalfuss said.

Li Ting and Guo easily won the women's 3-meter synchronized title.

The Russian duo of Dmitry Dobroskok and Gleb Galperin won the gold in men's synchronized 10-meter; China was second.

Li and Guo led all the way in the women's event and finished with 349.80 points.

Ditte Kotzian and Schmalfuss of Germany earned the silver with 319.05. Kristina Ishchenko and Olena Fedorova of Ukraine took the bronze with 308.82.