Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Diving World Cup Super Final 2024 - Chen Yuxi, Yang Hao claim two more victories for hosts in Xi’an, China

 


"Xie Xie Xi'an!"(Thank you, Xi'an) Chen Yuxi and Quan Hongchan called out everyone's words with a heart pose as the host team China stormed to collect eight gold medals out nine events on offer - with Australia capturing one title -- as the World Aquatics Diving World Cup Super Final 2024 concluded here in Xi’an, China on Sunday.

Chen and Yang Hao, winners of women's and men's 10m platform on the last day of Super Final, celebrated their trophies on the overall rankings at World Cup 2024 as the Best Female and Male Diver after three stops in Montreal, Berlin and Xi'an

 

Women's 10m Platform

In a battle between Chen Yuxi and Quan Hongchan, it was Chen who laughed at the end as she crowned the women's 10m platform with solid five dives in a total of 443.20.  Chen started second place after first two dives, then clinched a game-high 94.05 on her 626C and kept the momentum until the last dive. Tokyo Olympic champion and reigning world champion Quan took the silver in 410.70, Andrea Spendolini Sirieix of Britain picked up the bronze medal in 344.60.

"The huge crowd gave me a lot of confidence and encouragement. I feel excited and full of energy to compete and show my best in Xi'an. I will gear up for the coming Olympic Games together with my best friend Quan," Chen said.

Quan admitted her mistakes in the decisive 207C, which brought her glory some times but pity some other time: "My mistakes comes from 207C with as poor as 66 points. I am not fully ready and excited enough in the final. But I am very grateful to the audience. My elder brother and sister are also here to cheer up for me."

As usual, Andrea Spendolini Sirieix gave big hugs to Chen Yuxi and Quan Hongchan after the competition. "I love both of the Chinese girls. They are incredible, their work ethic, their diving, the way they approach things, their mentality...I look at them and I'm in abide by them me. Quan is like my younger sister and Chen and I talk a lot. I ask her how to get better at Chinese and her English improves every single time."

 

Men's 10m Platform

Yang Hao, a native from Xi'an, suffered from high fever just before the Super Final but found himself good enough to lead the 10m platform from morning heat to final, winning in 557.60.

"It is my hometown and I am so happy to compete in front of my family and friends. However, I suffered from weakness after high fever these days, my legs were shaking during the last two rounds in morning heats. The cheers from the crowd help me forget about weakness and outperform in the final," Yang Hao said.“The gold medal and trophy of the Best Male Diver of the World Cup are the best gift to the audience.”

Rikuto Tamai of Japan also showed stable form in throughout the preliminary in 526.60 and lifted his personal best to 531.55 in the final. Randal Willars Valdez of Mexico came to third place with 492.50.

"I am happy with my performance today and I feel at home with the support from full house spectators. I hope I can improve myself and show my best in Paris Olympic Games," said the 17-year-old Japanese diver.

On the medal table of the Super Final, the hosts topped with 8 gold 1 silver and Australia second with one gold and two bronzes. Britain placed third with two silvers and three bronzes and Mexico fourth with two silvers and one bronze.

While the three-day Diving World Cup Super Final comes to an end, the entire diving world will enter the time for Paris Olympic Games

Written by: Zhou Xin, World Aquatics Correspondent

Image Source:Getty Images

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