A three-member Colombian diving team was going all out for a medal in the coming Beijing Olympics.
"It will be amazing if I could enter the final, or even take a medal," said Juan Guillermo Uran after training on Friday. He is to compete in three events of 3m springboard, 10m platform and synchronized in the Beijing Games.
The 25-year-old was the only Colombian diver to compete in the Sydney and Athens Olympics. His access into the 10m platform final in Athens was considered great achievement for the country.
Four years later, he has two more teammates now to endeavor together for the Beijing Olympics, namely his synchronized partner Victor Ortega and women 3m springboard diver Diana Isabel Pineda.
"We trained very hard, and concentrate on every dive to make final preparation," said Juan, who is considered the Colombia's best medal hope.
Before arriving in Beijing, Colombian divers took one-month training in Canada, and later on spend 12 days in China's Tianjin municipality for warm-up.
"It will be hard competitions. The Chinese are too strong, and probably win all gold medals," said the Colombian top favorite.
Instead of caring results, he would remain "quiet" and only focus on his training.
"We are getting better and better," he said, adding he is more experienced and more focused in his third Olympic trip.
(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2008)