China seeks fourth gold

26 September 2000

Three-times Olympic champion FU Mingxia leads a field of 44 competitors into the Wednesday preliminaries of Women's 3m Springboard Diving at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

FU, the defending gold medallist on both boards, is focusing only on the 3m Springboard at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

The two-time world champion has found success at the Sydney International Aquatic Centre before, winning silver at the 2000 World Cup, behind teammate GUO Jingjing.

GUO, the silver medallist at the 1998 World Championships, looked strong while claiming second with FU on Saturday's 3m Synchronized Springboard event. She hopes to be among the finalists.

Synchronized Springboard gold medallist Ioulia PAKHALINA (RUS) and three-time Olympic finalist Vera ILINA (RUS) are expected to advance past the early rounds. PAKHALINA is the defending world champion in this event, while ILINA is a two-time NCAA (USA collegiate) national champion in the event.

Canadian Eryn BULMER should challenge for medals as well. The defending Pan American and Commonwealth champion claims to feel a special attachment to the Sydney pool, where she won the bronze at this year's World Cup.

Australian Chantelle MICHELL shares that affinity for the Aquatic Centre. The 1998 Goodwill Games 3m Springboard silver medallist barely missed out on the medal stand at the 2000 World Cup, finishing 0.87 points behind BULMER.

The preliminaries are scheduled to begin at 10:00 Sydney time, with the top 18 qualifiers moving on to the evening's semifinal round.

Olympic News Service