CHINA DAILY TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012 olympics 5 China wins second gold medal By ASSOCIATED PRESS in

China was too good again. and extended the country’s diving domi- nance with a victory in the men’s 10-meter synchronized platform on @HOTONWEB Monday, giving China its second gold medal on @Wu Minxia the boards at the London “I am so happy. He Zi and I won the Olympics. gold on the fi rst day of the diving Cao and Zhang totaled competition. Hope the Chinese diving team will get more inspiration from our 486.78 points in the six-dive final, performance! Thanks for your support. spoiling the gold-medal hopes of Brits I was so excited when the Chinese and Peter Waterfi eld, who national fl ag rose!” were shut out aft er a major mistake. Chinese diving star Wu Minxia on “If you miss a dive in this kind of her and He’s victory fi eld then you’re out,” Daley said. Cao, who is 17, and 18-year-old @Guo Wenjun Zhang were unflappable while “It is so exciting to defend the title! launching themselves off the 10-meter Thanks for the cultivation from my tower in front of the partisan crowd country. Cheers!” that shouted “GB! GB!” Chinese shooter Guo Wenjun, after They led Mexico by 10.28 points winning the women’s 10m air pistol aft er the fi ft h round, but came up big on their fi nal dive, a back 2 1/2 somer- @Yi Jianlian sault with 2 1/2 twists pike that earned “We lost the fi rst match. But we 99.36 points. should keep the good momentum, concentration and the desire to win! German Sanchez and Ivan Garcia Keep the confi dence and trust among of Mexico had the highest degree of players! Let’s make good preparations difficulty in the competition and it for the next match.” paid off with the silver. Th ey scored Yi Jianlian, Chinese basketball star 468.90 to earn Mexico’s fi rst Olympic and the Chinese national fl ag bearer medal in men’s synchronized diving. at the Games, on the team’s loss “We are still in awe about what just against Spain happened,” Sanchez said. Sanchez and Garcia got advice @StephonMarbury from former Olympic diving medal- “Yi Jianlian played a great game, which ists Jesus Mena and Fernando Platas MICHAEL SOHN / ASSOCIATED PRESS was needed against a strong Spain a day earlier. Gold medalists Cao Yuan (left) and Zhang Yanquan of China pose during the medal ceremony for the men’s synchronized 10 meter platform diving fi nal at team despite coming up short. As team “They told us that we needed to the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park on Monday. China prepares for the next game, keep it cool out there because that’s defense should be the main focus. Team China has proven they can score the only way to win a medal,” Sanchez it right, but it’s a dive that we have “We were about ready to walk out a 12-year medal drought. ping to third. Th ey earned their high- the ball, so now it’s time to turn up the said. “We even modifi ed the diving list been doing for so long that we did and we were like, ‘Oh, we just got “Th e fl oodgates have opened,” said est score of 95.04 on their last dive, rip- defense.” at their request and it totally worked.” not want to take it out,” Sanchez said. third, we’re bronze medalists.’ I US high performance director Steve ping through a back 2 1/2 somersault Stephon Marbury, former NBA He and Garcia pulled off their trick- “Everybody said that it was foolish to think it will sink in once you see Foley, who began emphasizing suc- 2 1/2 twists pike. star and key member of the iest dive — an inward 4 1/2 somersault have a dive with such a big degree of your family, you celebrate, you’re on cess in the synchro events aft er Bei- “I watched the Olympics on TV Beijing Ducks, on Yi Jianlian’s fi ery tuck with a 4.1 degree of diffi culty — diffi culty, but here’s the result. Th ose the ‘Today’ show.” jing. “Th ey did it the hard way. It was and pointed at it and said: ‘That’s performance against Spain for the highest score of 95.95 in the critics made us better.” The Americans are 2-for-2 after a hell of a contest. It could have gone what I want to do’, and now I’m here,” fourth round. Nick McCrory and Abby Johnston and Kelci Bryant either way.” McCrory said. “I want the sport to @paugasol “We tried it so many times in the of the US took the bronze with 463.47. earned a silver in the 3-meter syn- McCrory and Boudia were third grow. I just hope we inspired some “Good victory last few days and we were not doing “It’s not real yet,” Boudia said. chro springboard on Sunday, ending aft er the fi rst two rounds before slip- people today.” against China in our fi rst match of the Games! We’ll get in better KEY FACTS fl ow as we move forward in the China has steadily improved at tournament.” Chinese so good, ‘it’s annoying’ recent Games, winning fi ve gold Spanish medals in diving in , six in basketball and seven in Beijing. center Pau Gasol, after Mainland stars continue to fl ummox in 2008 with his sixth and fi nal dive, at the 2000 Sydney Games, winning The men’s 10m platform was the which scored 112.10 points, the silver with Anne Montminy in the only event China failed to win in winning the fi rst rest of world with its utter dominance highest single-dive total in Olympic women’s 10m synchronized platform. Beijing. game against China history. Although she never was able to top The US is the only nation to By CHEN XIANGFENG China’s world champions Wu It enabled him to snatch gold from China in major international events, sweep. It did so fi ve times in London Minxia and He Zi easily won the favorite Zhou Luxin, denying China Heymans — who also won bronze in between 1928 and 1952, when @Wu Jingbiao [email protected] women’s synchronized 3m spring- a clean sweep. Athens and silver in Beijing — marked there were only four diving “Although it was board event on Sunday. “It’s inspirational. (We should) herself as an outstanding diver in both events on the program. a silver, I want to thank all for your Nobody can fi gure out how to beat The Chinese won seven diving have more winning stars to inspire the individual and synchronized div- Since the Los Angeles Games in attention on the Chinese weightlifting team and me. There is still a long way to China in diving, but it’s not for lack gold medals in Beijing four years ago the younger generation, to give them ing events, winning medals in four 1984 — the fi rst time China par- ticipated — it has dominated the go in the future. I may fail or succeed. of trying. and swept all 10 at the 2011 world confi dence,” said Smith. consecutive Olympics. diving, winning 27 of 40 events. But today I decide to face the result Journalists, coaches and foreign championships. “We also have Chinese coaches. Li said Canada is struggling now, At the 2011 world championships directly since I still have my life and divers all put forth their opinions Wu and He scored 346.20 points to We know how they train. We must but expects it to bounce back. in Shanghai, China won all 10 career. God will watch what we are while China was busy working on secure Wu’s third consecutive Olym- keep training, do our best in diving “Th is is an up-and-down sport,” events. doing.” Chinese lifter Wu Jingbiao on his sweeping the gold medals at the Lon- pic title, with the United States taking and never give up. Success rewards Li said. “For us, we are in the down China’s fi rst diving medal at the silver in the men’s 56kg category don Olympics. silver and Canada edging Italy for hard work and determination.” period. I’m sure aft er years of hard London Games was its 50th in It might not happen this genera- bronze. work, more and more talented div- Olympic diving. tion, but that doesn’t mean it’s not ’s Anabelle Smith, who Chinese coaches needed ers will come out to fi ght for the gold @WayneRooney coming. fi nished fi ft h with partner Sharleen Canada’s Emilie Heymans and Jen- against the Chinese.” “Yes giggsy.” “I’ve followed diving for eight Stratton, is weary of China’s domi- nifer Abel won bronze in London Another former Chinese coach, know how to train and where our British soccer player Wayne Rooney years. I think part of the obstacle for nance, but she and her partner believe under Chinese coach Li Yihua. Yang Zhuliang, is head of the diving problems are. on Britain’s 3-1 victory against the American and other athletes all over Australia has a chance to beat China if Li, who helped Heymans become team and has lift ed it to a competitive “Th e Chinese are just more deter- UAE, in which captain Ryan Giggs scored a goal the world is not to be intimidated it continues to work hard. one of the best athletes in Canadian level in some events, like men’s 10m mined to go all-out in training and by Chinese divers,” David Woods, “It’s annoying because it is always history, believes Canada’s divers need synchronized platform. competition. Athletes in other coun- @kimcollins100m a reporter for Th e Indianapolis Star, the Chinese anthem (during the to be able to put in more time. Two women on the team, Pamg tries do not have the willpower to told China Daily. medal ceremony),” she said. “Th ey “Th ere’s no comparison between Pandelela Rinong and Cheong Jun keep going. Also, China has so many “I was just trying to get to the village. But no one knows anything, nor could “Before anyone can beat the Chi- are amazing. I feel like they do 10 China and Canada so far,” Li said. Hoong, advanced to the synchro- young athletes to select. If you don’t they help. I was shocked to experience nese divers, it’s something they’ve hours (of training) a day and we do “China is full time, we are training nized spring fi nal, but fi nished last. measure up, you will be dismissed. that. In London.” got to believe, and destroy (the six. They have a different lifestyle part time. Our divers have to work Rinong said she believes China is But in Malaysia, the number of ath- St. Kitts sprinter Kim Collins obstacle). I expect China will main- than us.” and make a living. Based on that, beatable if divers begin training hard letes is smaller than a province in tain its dominance for some time. Fellow Australian Matthew Mit- we have done a good job as we can at a young age. China. I hope more young people @paulajradcliff e But certainly, the US is trying to cham’s success at the Beijing Games compete against the Chinese in inter- “I do not think China has a secret pick up the sport, start systematic First time I smiled today was watching close the gap. With the help of Chi- has been a source of inspiration. national competitions.” in diving,” she said. “We also have training from a young age and never @L_ArmiTstead claim silver in the nese coaches, they will catch up.” Mitcham made Olympic history Heymans made a name for herself very good Chinese athletes and we give up.” womens road race — well done! British marathon runner Paula Radcliff e, who pulled out of the Olympics because of injury

@BeckAdlington Punch enough guys, you can buy your folks a house “Ahhhhhhhh bronze medal!!! Can’t believe it! SOOO happy it’s unreal! The By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE and it is they who should be taking that he eschewed going to the open- ago, while mom Valerie also lost her crowd was incredible! THANK YOU to in London everyone, your support is amazing!” the applause because without them I ing ceremony on the eve of his bout. permanent job as a secretary, though British swimmer Rebecca Adlington, wouldn’t have had this opportunity.” “I am not here for the opening cer- she does get part-time work from after the women’s 400m freestyle boxer Joseph His father and coach Joseph Sr, emony, I’m here for the gold medal,” time to time. Diaz Junior believes a gold medal in who has been jobless for three years said the teenager, who showed his Joseph Senior, though, is grateful London will pave the way to a bright and no longer receives unemploy- class at the world championships by his son’s talent and dreams have kept future as a professional and help drag ment benefi ts, was equally emotional beating the 2004 Olympic silver med- the fl ame of hope alive in the house- his parents out of poverty. aft er watching the bout. alist Worapoj Petchkoom and former hold — down to in no small measure Th e lively 19-year-old, two-time He had raised the money to come world bronze medalist Oscar Valdez. to his succeeding in getting Jo-Jo American champion, may be the here with his wife through selling Diaz, known as Jo-Jo, says he wishes to switch from being naturally left - youngest member of the T-shirts and washing cars. to emulate what the great Oscar de la handed to a right-hander in the ring. US team, but he shows “Knowing that’s your son, your Hoya — the lightweight gold medalist and a new start in life.” Diaz senior never really had it in maturity beyond his blood in there,” a teary-eyed Joseph in 1992 — did for his family thanks to Diaz’s qualifying for the Games, mind for his son to box for a career. years when he acknowl- Diaz told the Los Angeles Times. “It’s his success inside the ring. and now his fi rst round victory, have He viewed baseball as his future, edges the debt he owes just something, man.” “I’m fi ghting not just for my coun- been rare rays of sunlight in the fam- but he saw the gym as being a safe his mother and father. Diaz taught himself the art of try but for my family — to be the ily household over the past three haven in their Los Angeles area. @chrishoy “My family means a lot to me and becoming a coach through watching next Golden Boy and do for my fam- years as both his parents have been “I told him, ‘Joseph, you want to go “Well done @BeckAdlington you did to see them in the crowd here is an YouTube videos and talking to quali- ily what Oscar De La Hoya did for made redundant. to the gym? You’re hanging around yourself and the whole of GB proud out overwhelming experience,” he said fi ed trainers. his,” said Diaz, who has been linked Th ey have also been under threat the wrong people,’” Diaz told the Los there, great job! Bring on the 800!” aft er his impressive opening bantam- Diaz, who was the fi rst American with De La Hoya’s highly successful of eviction from their home. Angeles Times. Britain’s Chris Hoy on British weight round win, which set up a bout to qualify for the Olympics when Golden Boy stable. Joseph Senior hasn’t found work “I didn’t want him to choose it as swimmer Rebecca Adlington’s with Cuban top seed Lazaro Alvarez. he reached the world championship “I’m fi ghting not for glory but to since being laid off from the truck a profession. Just something to keep bronze medal in the women’s 400m “Th ere they are cheering me on, quarterfi nals last year, is so driven get my mom and dad a new house company he worked for three years him off the streets.” freestyle