4 olympics WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012 DAILY Scoring Russian leaves fans and diver ends coach gold sweep angry By WU YING and TANG ZHE

Chinese head coach Huang Yubin called Aug 6, 2012, “a dark day in gymnastics’ history”, dreams as disputed scoring deprived China’s “king of the rings”, Chen Zakharov’s fi nal plunge pips China’s Yibing, the Olympic gold medal on Monday. Qin for title in men’s 3m springboard Controversy erupted when Chen, the defending champion, By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Chinese divers had won all fi nished his routine with sound in fi ve events leading up to the execution and a stable landing, men’s springboard final and while his 22-year-old Brazilian Russia’s end- were looking to go one better rival Arthur Nabarrete stumbled ed China’s hopes of a clean than their seven out of eight at during the landing but edged sweep of all eight gold the Games four years Chen out by one-tenth of a point medals with a thrilling victory ago. with a score of 15.900. in the men’s 3m springboard But they were denied the China was prevented from fi nal at the Olympics on Tues- perfecta again, this time by appealing because the two day. Zakharov’s series of brilliant shared the same 6.8 difficulty Zakharov pumped his fist dives off the springboard. and rules stipulate execution in the air when he Qin only led Zahharov by scores cannot be altered. scored a competi- 1.25 points into the last dive, Huang later lashed out at the tion high 104.50 and his 89.10 for a reverse two referees’ judgment in his column points on his last and a half somersault with one on the popular portal Sina.com. dive to claim the and a half twists proved not “I think most people in the gold medal from Chinese pair enough against the resilient world respected and cheered and defending cham- Russian. wholeheartedly for my gymnasts pion . Zakharov, who took silver in — but, today, the referees didn’t,” Th e 21-year-old from Len- the 3m synchronized spring- Huang wrote. ingrad kept his nerve to deny board with “Th ey chose to let the Brazil- Qin the gold with a superla- behind China, separated the ian gymnast, who had an obvi- tive closing forward four and two Chinese divers as second ously fl awed routine, step onto a half somersault that brought to He among the top qualifi ers the highest podium, which I a huge roar in the Aquatics aft er the morning semifi nals. believe not only hurt the Chinese Centre and left Qin in tears. And he continued his blaz- gymnastics team and Chen but Zakharov totaled 555.90 ing form in the final, han- also all the world’s gymnastics from his six dives to take the dling the pressure of the clos- MICHAEL SOHN / ASSOCIATED PRESS fans. gold ahead of Qin (541.75) ing round to give Russia the Gold medalist Ilya Zakharov from Russia celebrates after the men’s 3-meter springboard diving fi nal at the Aquatics Centre in the “Referees are the judges on the and He (524.15). gold. Olympic Park on Tuesday. China’s Qin Kai won silver while his compatriot He Chong clinched bronze. sports fi eld. Th ey should be strict but impartial. But they made inconceivable judgments. “Let me ask: Will you feel ashamed when you recall this fi nal years later? Do you think Aussie Meares For Yang, life Chen will have another four years? Will you feel guilty when you see my gymnasts’ knees full of wounds?” crashes British after sports is Th e coach said Chen delivered the most perfect routine of his life for the world but was denied the championship he deserved. cycling party all positive “Actually, I feel bitter inside, but I did my best — even better than when I was the champion in By DIAO YING in London off their medals to gain a quick Beijing,” said Chen, who kissed [email protected] buck. the apparatus aft er his routine. at velodrome “Athletes usually retire “But what can I do? Fight the When Sun Yang broke the at around 28. For a normal referees?” he said, smiling. world record and won the person, that is the best time But many who watched Chen’s Rivalry for the ages comes to men’s 1,500m freestyle, it was in one’s life; but for athletes, fl awless routine were upset and Yang Yang, an International it feels like reaching the peak voiced their discontent. an end in women’s fi nal Olympic Committee official of their lives and they do not Th e women’s sil- and the winner of China’s fi rst know what to do aft erwards,” ver medalist, He Kexin, and her By ASSOCIATED PRESS egated a few minutes later for Winter Olympics gold medal, she said. teammate, , said they in London coming out of the lane. who presented the gold to him. What also hurts athletes is couldn’t believe the result. She never looked in conten- “Having experienced the the burden of winning a gold. Iordan Iovtchev, Bulgaria’s six- of tion in the second bout aft er moment of winning myself, If one can win, they will have time Olympian and its gymnas- spoiled the British party at Meares track standed to force I felt touched and honored glory and sponsorships. If tics federation president, said: the London Velodrome on her to go in front. Meares when presenting the medal,” they lose, they risk wasting “Th e Chinese didn’t even twitch, Tuesday, winning the Olym- then rounded Pendleton on said the 36-year-old former years of training. and I think he was the best. Th e pic gold medal in the wom- the outside to claim the gold world champion in speed Yang said she always has a judges probably were looking for en’s sprint 2-0 over defending medal in ’s mar- skating. “Although when I sense of crisis. When she was a little variety.” champion Victoria Pendle- quee event. won, I did not really pay atten- an athlete, she read of sad sto- Italian coach Maurizio ton and settling for good a Meares punched the air tion to whom was presenting ries of her teammates who lost Allievi said: “He (Nabarrete) decade-long rivalry. before crossing the line, then the medal — I was too happy.” in competition and tried to can’t match Chen and Morandi It was sweet shed her visor before joining A decade aft er Yang Yang’s avoid being caught up in the (bronze medalist) at all. Chen is revenge for hands with Pendleton, her CATHAL MCNAUGHTON / REUTERS speed skating victory, it looks hype. Her sense of crisis, she better than Morandi in his rou- Meares, who lost greatest rival over the past Australia’s Anna Meares celebrates with a team offi cial after like she is still on top of every said, possibly comes from her tine execution.” to the British decade. women’s sprint fi nal at the velodrome on Tuesday. Meares won aspect of her life, including family, where her father passed The 28-year-old had been rider in the fi nal “Victoria’s such a hard- the gold medal. motherhood. away when she was young. expected to retain his crown in four years ago in Beijing. She fought opponent and she’s She is in London with her “I learned since I was very his best event after he led his denied Pendleton a third gold dominated the sport for so of a second, the smallest pos- 3-month-old son. As an IOC small that there is nobody to team to defend the title earlier. medal, which would have long,” Meares said. “It’s been sible margin. official, she presents med- rely on. I can only depend on Chen will retire after the made her the most successful such a diffi cult challenge and director of als three times a day during myself,” she said. “The most national games next year and British female athlete at the to be able to win the Olympic performance the Games. During a break important thing for a person is fi nish graduate courses at Beijing Olympics. title for me, it’s so special. I’ve was then seen chatting with between medal celebrations independence. Only with inde- Physical Education University. Pendleton has said she tried so much and worked I am glad to say that officials seconds before the recently, she quickly took off her pendence can one get dignity.” will retire after the London so hard for a long period of this is the last time speaker said that Pendleton stiletto heels, put on some slip- Yang said change for her has Contact the writer at tangzhe@ Games. time and I’ve asked a lot of I have to go through was relegated. pers and excused herself for fi ve not been easy. chinadaily.com.cn. “I am just so relieved people around me to do the ‘‘ “I was really annoyed minutes to breast-feed her son. “I had a quick temper, and I right now, I am just so over- same so it feels like this is a this.” because I was sure that she She not only works for the do everything very fast. Now I whelmed with emotion,” just reward.” touched me and it caused me IOC; she has established a have learned to be patient and Pendleton said. “I would have Pendleton, who had been BRITISH CYCLIST to move up,” Pendleton said. skating center in Shanghai to be reasonable,” she said. loved to have won in my fi nal relegated in the “I cannot believe twice in and a charity to help retired Yang said many athletes race. At the same time, I am before she bounced back with one competition that I have athletes develop their post- are well prepared for a nor- just so glad I am done and I the gold medal in the , to go through this.” been relegated, disqualifi ed, sports careers. mal everyday job － they just can move on.” was in tears but found some Meares had started the it’s unheard of. It’s a bit of Jobs for China’s retired ath- don’t know their own poten- of China won consolation when the capac- first leg on the outside of a surprise. It did knock my letes have long been a major tial. Th ey are disciplined and the bronze with a 2-0 win ity crowd started to chant the track. She produced her confidence a bit, I have to issue. Many athletes today face hard working, and research over of Ger- “Vicky, Vicky, Vicky!” eff ort in the fi nal lap to move say.” a diffi cult life aft er they retire. shows that even their commu- many on the fi nal day of track “I am glad it got to that next to Pendleton in the fi nal Meares and Pendleton have Under the current State sys- nication skills, which is oft en competition. stage because I believe she’s curve. Meares touched her multiple world titles and a bit- tem, athletes pick their sports underestimated, are better Th e 31-year-old Pendleton the best rider on the field,” rival with her left arm in the ter rivalry that escalated at the at an early age of about six than average. thought she had got off to a Pendleton said. “Anna and home stretch in a furious 2006 World Championships or even younger. They then “You have to communicate strong start in the final after myself in the fi nal. We have sprint to the line and offi cials in Bordeaux, France, where devote their entire lives to the with your coach and cooper- CUI MENG / beating Meares by one thou- met many a time. I wish her needed a photo fi nish before the British rider accused her sport. School time is limited. ate with teammates to distin- China’s Chen Yibing kisses the sandth of a second. But the all the best. I am glad to say announcing Pendleton had rival of cutting her off in a In recent years, there have guish yourself in sports,” she apparatus after claiming silver defending champion was rel- that this is the last time I have won the leg by one thousand keirin race. been news of athletes selling said. in the men’s rings on Monday.