Long Daoyi/Wang Zongyuan (R) of China celebrate with their medals after the men synchronised 3m springboard final of World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, on July 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
FUKUOKA, Japan, July 15 (Xinhua) -- China secured all three diving gold medals at Saturday's World Aquatics Championships, delivering a potent signal to competitors of their readiness for another clean sweep.
The Chinese powerhouse's initial victory was courtesy of two teenagers. Fourteen-year-old Wang Feilong, in concert with 19-year-old Olympic champion Zhang Jiaqi, clinched the mixed synchronized 10m platform.
Zhang, a women's synchronized platform victor at the Tokyo Olympics, inspired her younger teammate Wang Feilong to lead from the start in their triumphant performance. The pair accrued a total of 339.54 points over six dives, outpacing Mexico's Jose Balleza Isaias and Vivana Delangel Peniche who garnered 313.44 points.
China's second gold was claimed by Lin Shan, who outperformed her compatriot and reigning champion Li Yajie in the women's one-meter springboard.
An electrifying men's synchronized three-meter springboard final unfolded next. Britain's Jack Laugher and Anthony Harding, silver medalists at the previous year's world championships, exploited a misstep by China's Long Daoyi in the fifth dive to narrow their deficit to less than nine points.
However, a stellar performance in the final dive by reigning Olympic champion Wang Zongyuan and Long fetched them 100.32 points, culminating in an insurmountable total of 456.33.
Laugher and Harding had to settle for silver once more, with a score of 424.62 points.
Long, who formed a diving partnership with Wang Zongyuan just six months prior, admitted to feeling immense pressure.
"This is my first major international competition," Long said. "I was very nervous."
Wang Zongyuan's timely advice, however, helped him regain his composure before the decisive dive. "I told him to be confident in himself. We should never give up."
The tournament's first gold medal was awarded to Germany's Leonie Beck in the women's 10-kilometer open water event.
The 26-year-old, a silver medalist at last year's Budapest worlds, outpaced Australia's Chelsea Gubecka in the final stretch, clocking in first at two hours, two minutes and 34 seconds.
Gubecka, competing in her sixth world championships, secured silver with a time of 2:02:38.1, while American swimmer Katie Grimes claimed the bronze, finishing in 2:02:42.3.
Japan's Yukiko Inui, an artistic swimmer, earned the host nation their inaugural gold after successfully defending her women's solo technical event title. ■
Long Daoyi/Wang Zongyuan (R) of China compete during the men's synchronised 3m springboard final of World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, July 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Long Daoyi/Wang Zongyuan (R) of China react after the last dive of the men's synchronised 3m springboard final of World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, July 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Jules Bouyer (L)/Alexis Jandard of France compete during the men's synchronised 3m springboard final of World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, July 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Jack Laugher/Anthony Harding (R) of Britain compete during the men's synchronised 3m springboard final of World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, July 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Long Daoyi/Wang Zongyuan (R) of China compete during the men's synchronised 3m springboard final of World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, July 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Long Daoyi/Wang Zongyuan (R) of China react during the medal ceremony after the men's synchronised 3m springboard final of World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, July 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Long Daoyi/Wang Zongyuan (R) of China compete during the men's synchronised 3m springboard final of World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, July 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Technical official Guo Jingjing (2nd R) is seen during the men's synchronised 3m springboard final of World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, July 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Long Daoyi/Wang Zongyuan (R) of China react during the medal ceremony after the men's synchronised 3m springboard final of World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, July 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Jack Laugher/Anthony Harding of Britain, Long Daoyi/Wang Zongyuan of China and Jules Bouyer/Alexis Jandard of France (from L to R) pose during the medal ceremony after the men's synchronised 3m springboard final of World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, July 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Jack Laugher/Anthony Harding (R) of Britain compete during the men's synchronised 3m springboard final of World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, July 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Long Daoyi/Wang Zongyuan (R) of China react during the medal ceremony after the men's synchronised 3m springboard final of World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, July 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Jack Laugher/Anthony Harding (R) of Britain compete during the men's synchronised 3m springboard final of World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, July 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Long Daoyi/Wang Zongyuan (R) of China compete during the men's synchronised 3m springboard final of World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, July 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Long Daoyi/Wang Zongyuan (R) of China compete during the men's synchronised 3m springboard final of World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, July 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Long Daoyi/Wang Zongyuan (R) of China compete during the men's synchronised 3m springboard final of World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, July 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Long Daoyi/Wang Zongyuan (R) of China react during the men's synchronised 3m springboard final of World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, July 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
