China claims first diving gold of Budapest worlds

Cao Yuan (R) and Wang Zongyuan of China compete during the Men's 3m Synchronised final of diving at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, June 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

BUDAPEST, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Cao Yuan and Wang Zongyuan won the men's 3m synchronized final on the nineth competition day of the 19th FINA World Championships here on Sunday.

Cao/Wang received a total of 459.18 points, ahead of Jack Laugher/Anthony Harding from Britain (451.71) and Lars Rudiger/Timo Barthel from Germany (406.44).

The 20-year-old Wang is already an Olympic champion. He won the gold at the Tokyo Games in the same discipline paired with Xie Siyi.

Cao, 27, who won the 3m springboard at the Rio Olympics in 2016, claimed an individual gold of the 10m platform but missed the title in the 10m synchronized in Tokyo.

Also a 3m synchronized world champion respectively pairing with Qin Kai and Xie in the 2015 and 2019 worlds, Cao's partnership in this event with Wang started last December.

"It's my honor to win the first gold for the Chinese diving team here in Budapest. But actually I'm not very satisfied with the final attempt. It could have been better with higher points if I stayed more focused," Cao told Xinhua following his victory.

"I've won the World Championships golds in 3m synchro for three times and every time it feels different with different partners. As a veteran, it's not easy to keep the best form. I need to catch up with the tempo with the younger ones in the team to keep good quality of training," he added.

"I'm pretty happy with the result today. This is my first international event after winning the Olympic gold. And it's my first time to compete in the synchro diving in World Championships. The gold means a lot to me. A little bit of pity in the final attempt, but anyway, we can do better next time," Wang explained.

China has finished no lower than second on the podium of the men's 3m springboard synchronized event while taking nine of the 11 golds so far on offer.

The only two years they failed to win gold, they picked up silver: Wang Tianling/Wang Feng (2003) and Cao Yuan/Xie Siyi (2017), both losing to the Russians.

And only Chinese divers have won multiple gold medals in this event at the world championships: Qin Kai (5), Wang Feng (3), Cao Yuan (2) and He Chong (2). ■

Cao Yuan (R) and Wang Zongyuan of China compete during the Men's 3m Synchronised final of diving at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, June 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Cao Yuan (R) and Wang Zongyuan of China compete during the Men's 3m Synchronised final of diving at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, June 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Cao Yuan (R) and Wang Zongyuan of China compete during the Men's 3m Synchronised final of diving at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, June 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Cao Yuan (L) and Wang Zongyuan of China pose for photo after the Men's 3m Synchronised final of diving at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, June 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Cao Yuan (R) and Wang Zongyuan of China pose for photo during the awarding ceremony of the Men's 3m Synchronised final of diving at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, June 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Silver medalists Jack Laugher and Anthony Harding of Britain, gold medalists Wang Zongyuan and Cao Yuan of China, bronze medalists Lars Rudiger and Timo Barthel of Germany (front L to R) pose for photo during the awarding ceremony of the Men's 3m Synchronised final of diving at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, June 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)