Diving powerhouse China clinched gold in seven events out of eight this weekend at the inaugural leg of the FINA Diving Grand Prix 2016, leaving Austria winning gold in one event – the men’s 3m springboard.
Constantin Blaha (AUT), 29, topped the men’s 3m with 438.65 points, while Huang Bowen (424.60) from China and Oleg Kolodiy (424.30) from Ukraine respectively placed second and third.
In the women’s field, Xu Zhihuan (CHN), 23, picked up gold in the 3m with 338.25 points, while compatriot Wang Han took silver and Netherlands’ Uschi Freitag placed third.
Anna Chuinyschena (RUS), 16, ended up second (303.55) in the 10m event, behind the 15-year-old Chinese Xia Bingqing (343.05).
All four synchro events (men’s and women’s) saw Chinese pairs stepping on the first step of the podium.
Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Ukraine and Venezuela were other nations grabbing a medal in Madrid.
Detailed results can be found here
A total 56 divers from 14 countries* took part in the meet in the Spanish capital, held from January 15-17.
*Countries taking part in the Madrid leg were: Austria, Canada, China, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and Venezuela
MEDALLISTS in Madrid
Men
3m springboard: 1.Constantin Blaha (AUT) 438.65, 2. Huang Bowen (CHN) 424.60, 3. Oleg Kolodiy (UKR) 424.30
10m platform: 1. Yang Hao (CHN) 499.50, 2. Huang Bowen (CHN) 443.70, 3. Jesper Tolvers (SWE) 360.75
3m synchro: 1. Zaho Dong/Li Jiawei (CHN) 375.84, 2. Constantin Blaha/Fabian Brandl (AUT) 367.14, 3. Otto Lehtonen/Jounni Kallunki (FIN) 323.61
10m synchro: 1. Jie Lian Jun/Yang Hao (CHN) 433.44, 2. Andras Sargent Larsen/Martin Bang Christensen (DEN) 354.60, 3. Robert Paez/Oscar Ariza (VEN) 354.45
Women
3m springboard: 1. Xu Zhihuan (CHN) 338.25, 2. Wang Han (CHN) 336.60, 3. Uschi Freitag (NED) 320.00
10m platform: 1. Xia Bingqing (CHN) 343.05, 2. Anna Chuinyshena (RUS) 303.55, 3. Li Jinming (CHN) 297.45
3m synchro: 1. Xu Zhihuan/Wang Han (CHN) 306.00, 2. Anne Vilde Tuxen/Helle Tuxen (NOR) 244.35, 3. Taina Karvonen/Iira Laatunen (FIN) 230.46
10m synchro: 1.Xia Bongqing/Xia Yujie (CHN), 2. Anna Krasnoshlyk/Vlada Tatsenko (UKR), Anne Vilde Tuxen/Helle Tuxen (NOR) 241.11
The full FINA Diving Grand Prix 2016 calendar is as follows:
1. Madrid (ESP): January 15-17
2. Rostock (GER): January 29-31
3. San Juan (PUR): March 31-April 3
4. Gatineau (CAN): April 7-10
5. Bolzano (ITA): July 15-17
6. Kuching (MAS): October 21-23
7. Gold Coast (AUS): October 27-30
8. Singapore (SIN): November 4-6
Swimming news courtesy of FINA.