China makes clean sweep of World Diving Series in London

Source:Xinhua Published: 2014-4-28 11:07:33

Gold medalist Chen Ruolin (C) of China poses with silver medalist Meaghan Benfeito(L) of Canada and bronze medalist Pandelela Rinong Pamg of Malaysia during the awarding ceremony for Women's 10M Platform of FINA/NVC Diving World Series 2014 at the London Aquatics Centre in London, Britain April 27, 2014. Chen claimed the title with 400.50 points. Photo: Xinhua


China secured their first World Series clean sweep of the season as 19-year old rookie Yang Jian won the men's 10m platform gold with a stunning display on the final day in London.

Earlier, Olympic champion Chen Ruolin maintained her perfect record at London Aquatics Center to win the women's 10m platform.

Yang, competing in his first World Series event, had recorded the highest international score this season to qualify on 598.70 then sailed past the 600 marker in the final to win on 616.50.

The two golds meant China won all eight titles available in London - achieving the feat for the first time this season after winning seven in Beijing and six in Dubai.

Yang's stunning performance underlined the strength in depth on offer for the Chinese, who rested world champion Qiu Bo and World Series gold medalist Cao Yuan in London.

His teammate Chen Aisen took silver on 553.25 and Ukraine's Oleksandr Bondar won bronze. USA's Olympic champion David Boudia finished fourth.

The 21-year-old Chen, who won the 10m platform and 10m synchro gold on both previous visits to London at the 2012 FINA World Cup and London 2012 Olympic Games, continued her dominance by winning gold on 400.50, breaking her 16-year-old teammate Liu Huixia's stranglehold on this season's World Series.

Liu had won the previous legs in Beijing and Dubai this season but dramatically dropped her penultimate effort - a back 3.5 somersaults with tuck - to crash out of the medal chase, eventually finishing fourth on 368.75.

Instead it was Canada's Meaghan Benfeito chasing Chen as she scored a World Series personal 394.75 to claim her first individual medal of the season with silver.

Malaysia's Pandelela Rinong Pamg repeated her result from her last visit to London at the Olympic Games as she landed bronze, scoring 81.60 on her final dive to secure her medal on 380.70.

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