Ukrainian
diver Danylo Avanesov produced an astounding display in the Boys A platform
final to ensure his nation finished top of the medal at the conclusion of the
2023 European Junior Diving Championships in Croatia.
His
success was Ukraine’s seventh gold medal of Rijeka 2023, with Italy finishing
second on five after Elisa Pizzini claimed her second title of the event by
winning the Girls A 3m final.
These
events ended seven days of incredible diving which have seen not only young
talent from established nations underline their ‘rising-star-status’ but also
the emergence of athletes from non-traditional medal-contenting nations in the
sport.
Most
notably these included moments of history by Matej Nevešćanin – with the host’s
first-ever European Junior Diving Championship gold – and Luisa Fragoeiro-Arco
– whose silver was Portugal’s maiden medal at this level.
Avanesov
had qualified for the Boys A platform final with the third highest score, so
was expected to be a strong medal contender, but it was Great Britain’s Robbie
Lee who led through the first two rounds.
The
Ukrainian ultimately showed his class though with a series of impressive
routines which gave him an overall score of 556.20 to finish clear of his
British rival who was second with 541.50 points.
“I’m very
happy with this medal because it’s important for me but also Ukraine,” Avanesov
told LEN after receiving the final gold of Rijeka 2023.
Lee
added; “I know I could have delivered a bit more, but I’m beyond exhausted and
have to be happy I held it together to deliver the silver.”
Isak
Borslien of Norway secure his nation’s first medal of Rijeka 2023 with a
hard-fought bronze, scoring 526 and finishing clear of defending champion Jaden
Eikermann (510.60) of Germany who was fourth.
“I’m
really happy because this is much more than I expected,” Borslien told LEN.
“I was
looking for top-six, so to finish third is amazing and it couldn’t be better.”
After
impressive performances at 1m, which she won, and in the 3m synchro final,
where she was second, Pizzini was the favourite for another title in the
individual 3m.
Despite
feeling fatigue from three successive days of competition the 18-year-old
delivered a masterful display and she was by far the strongest diver.
Her total
of 428.85 saw her finish well-clear of 3m synchro partner Rebecca Ciancaglini
(396.30) who herself secured a third medal of Rijeka 2023 with another second.
Two year
ago I came to my first European Juniors in this pool and won two golds and a
silver in synchro, so this has felt the same and that creates a lot of emotion
for me because today was my last junior competition,” Pizzini told LEN.
“This was
a long week and to finish like this, with Rebecca, is beautiful.”
Ciancaglini
added; “I made some mistakes in the morning and it is completely unexpected (to
win silver) but it’s amazing to do this with Elisa and I’m so happy.”
Germany’s
Emily Steinhagen (379.35) ensured the individual Girls A 3m event was a repeat
of the 1m final on Wednesday by edging Britain’s Tilly Brown to bronze.
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