Divers make early splash in London
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, February 22, 2012
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China's Qin Kai (L) and Luo Yutong win the men's synchronized 3-meter springboard. |
Described as "mythical" by one top diver and "breathtaking" by another, the Aquatics Center that will host four events at this summer's Olympics was given a big thumbs-up on Monday when the London venue opened its doors for competition for the first time.
Thousands of British fans poured into the sleek, wave-shaped venue to witness the latest test event for the games that doubled as a high-profile Diving World Cup meet, following a similar track cycling competition at the nearby velodrome over the weekend.
China dominated the opening day's action, with Qin Kai and Luo Yutong winning the men's synchronized 3-meter springboard with a score of 445.71 points and double Olympic champion Chen Ruolin topping the scoring in the preliminary round for the women's 10-meter platform. It was an expected show of strength by the Chinese, diving's major power.
But while the weeklong event provides a final opportunity for divers to secure qualification places for London, it also gives many of the world's top performers a precious early chance to sample the atmosphere of an Olympic venue.
The Aquatics Center will also stage swimming, synchronized swimming and modern pentathlon this summer.
Some 220 divers from 40 countries are competing in the World Cup, which is expected to be monopolized by the Chinese.
Chen, who won both the 10-meter platform and synchronized 10-meter platform in the Beijing Games in 2008, finished a comfortable first in the women's event Monday, nearly 65 points clear of second-place Yulia Koltunova of Russia. "The crowd are all very excited," Chen said. "They give you their good support whether your jump is good or bad."
