The team of China maintained its supremacy in the 2016 edition of the FINA/NVC Diving World Series, after collecting nine gold medals in the third leg of the circuit, held in the Canadian city of Windsor, from April 15-17. The only non-Chinese victory happened in the last final of the competition, the mixed 3m springboard synchro event, where Canada’s Jennifer Abel and François Imbeau-Dulac triumphed in 345.69.
Otherwise, China controlled all the remaining events at stake, making the 1-2 in the individual 3m springboard for men and women, and the men’s 10m platform. In the latter, one of the most expected duels during the three-day competition, Chen Aisen defeated three-time world champion Qiu Bo, while Thomas Daley (GBR) earned the bronze. The 2012 Olympic champion David Boudia (USA) was only fourth. He Chao (men’s 3m springboard) and Shi Tingmao (women’s 3m springboard), the best 2015 FINA Divers of the Year, could also not win in their pet events, getting the silver in both cases.
In the synchro events, China also comfortably triumphed in all the one-gender finals, while was also the best team in the mixed 10m platform. Before the last stop of the series in Kazan (RUS, April 22-24), the Asian powerhouse has amassed an impressive total of 29 gold medals, out of 30 events contested so far!
Host Canada also performed brilliantly in Windsor and claimed eight medals, including the above mentioned triumph in the mixed event. While the men were more discreet (only one podium presence), the quartet Jennifer Abel, Roseline Filion, Pamela Ware and Meaghan Benfeito was in great shape in the women’s competition (five medals).
Other nations with medallists in Windsor were Ukraine, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, Australia and FINA.
MEDALLISTS IN WINDSOR (CAN):
Men
3m springboard: 1. Cao Yuan (CHN), 540.15; 2. He Chao (CHN), 534.95; 3. Illya Kvasha (UKR), 505.35
10m platform: 1. Chen Aisen (CHN), 590.15; 2. Qiu Bo (CHN), 571.25; 3. Thomas Daley (GBR), 536.50
3m springboard synchro: 1. Qin Kai/Cao Yuan (CHN), 450.69; 2. Illya Kvasha/Oleksandr Gorshkovozov (UKR), 426.42; 3. Philippe Gagne/François Imbeau-Dulac (CAN), 414.36
10m platform synchro: 1. Lin Yue/Chen Aisen (CHN), 482.01; 2. Thomas Daley/Daniel Goodfellow (GBR), 441.84; 3. Victor Minibaev/Nikita Shleikher (RUS), 432.51
Women
3m springboard: 1. He Zi (CHN), 401.55; 2. Shi Tingmao (CHN), 394.05; 3. Jennifer Abel (CAN), 386.55
10m platform: 1. Ren Qian (CHN), 445.25; 2. Roseline Filion (CAN), 378.85; 3. Meaghan Benfeito (CAN), 372.70
3m springboard synchro: 1. He Zi/Wang Han (CHN), 339.90; 2. Tania Cagnotto/Francesca Dallape (ITA), 313.44; 3. Pamela Ware/Jennifer Abel (CAN), 312.87
10m platform synchro: 1. Chen Ruolin/Liu Huixia (CHN), 348.60; 2. Meaghan Benfeito/Roseline Filion (CAN), 313.71; 3. Tonia Couch/Lois Toulson (GBR), 310.68
Mixed
3m springboard synchro: 1. Jennifer Abel/François Imbeau-Dulac (CAN), 345.69; 2. Wang Han/Yang Hao (CHN), 343.50; 3. Dolores Hernandez/Jahir OCampo (SMF), 313.65
10m platform synchro: 1. Tai Xiaohu/Chang Yani (CHN), 337.86; 2. Meaghan Benfeito/Vincent Riendeau (CAN), 333.60; 3. Melissa Wu/Domonic Bedggood (AUS), 316.14
FINA/NVC Diving World Series 2016 calendar
1. Beijing (CHN) : March 11-13
2. Dubai (UAE) : March 17-19
3. Windsor (CAN): April 15-17
4. Kazan (RUS): April 22-24
Swimming news courtesy of FINA.
