CHINA DAILY AUGUST 21, 2011 • PAGE 3 DIVING Diver’s drive for medals makes a splash He all ‘class’ for Mexico after victory By LEI LEI CHINA DAILY RISING STAR STILL SEES ROOM FOR SHENZHEN — The women’s 3m springboard bronze was Mexi- IMPROVEMENT BEFORE OLYMPICS can Paola Espinosa’s third medal at the Shenzhen Universiade and her 14th from the four Summer Universiades she has competed in since 2005. Espinosa, who is known as the “diving queen” in Mexico, said she felt tired but remains enthusiastic about the springboard and plat- form events. “What I’m doing right now is what I love, but not what is ordered by my coach or my country,” the 25-year-old said. “The competition at this Uni- versiade is a little bit long for me, and I feel tired. But I’ve gotten used to it. I think competing is a pleasant thing, so I always forget the tiredness.” At the Shenzhen Universi- ade, Espinosa — the 2009 world champion on the 10m platform and bronze medalist in the 10m platform synchro — won the gold in her favorite event, the 10m plat- form, and a silver in the platform synchro with partner Tatiana Ortiz. She will also compete in the 3m springboard synchro tomorrow. “I focused 100 percent on the platform, so I felt a little bit of diffi - culty on the springboard,” she said, aft er claiming the 3m springboard individual bronze on Saturday. LU HANXIN / XINHUA “I will adjust myself tomorrow World champion He Zi led a 1-2 Chinese fi nish in the Universiade women’s 3m springboard competition yesterday. and get well prepared for the syn- chro event.” By LEI LEI gold, although she made some “Although I didn’t spend much Minxia, Guo’s former partner, for Espinosa’s boyfriend, Rommel CHINA DAILY mistakes in her second dive, a time here aft er I was selected to the synchronized event. Pacheco, is also diving for Mexico forward 3 1/2 somersault. Her the national team, I always feel at At the World Championships in Shenzhen. SHENZHEN — This one was compatriot, Wang Han, claimed home when coming back here,” in Shanghai last month, He and He claimed the silver with part- for the kids at school. silver with 370.00 points, followed she said. Wu won gold in the women’s 3m ner Jonathan Ruvalcaba in the World diving champion He by Paola Espinosa of Mexico He began drawing attention springboard synchro and she men’s 3m springboard synchro on Zi won Universiade gold in the (323.60). in the diving pool during the won silver in the individual event, Tuesday. women’s 3m springboard yester- Even a gold medal wasn’t era dominated by China’s div- beaten by Wu. “When she claims a medal, I’m day and she was, of enough to satisfy He. ing queen, Guo Jingjing, who Claiming she lacks confi dence, very happy, and so is she when I course, excited to “I will give myself 70 percent claimed the world champion- He says her personality is not that achieve good results,” he said. claim the medal for for the performances,” she said. ship title on the springboard fi ve of a competitive athlete, but she “Th e love between us has helped her country. “I still have some weak points to times. keeps pushing herself. us to improve together.” But she was just improve.” At the age of 16, she won silver “I used to doubt whether I was Espinosa said she will compete on DIVING as excited to bring Born in Nanning, in China’s medals in the women’s 3m spring- suited to being an athlete, but both the springboard and platform one back to her Guangxi Zhuang autonomous board individual and synchro- maybe I didn’t know myself well,” at next year’s London Olympics. university. region, He was selected for the nized events at the 2006 Doha said He. “As an athlete, I always Her Chinese coach, Ma Jin, “Th e biggest diff erence I felt at Shenzhen diving team at an ear- Asian Games. want to be better and better.” expects at least a medal at the 2012 the Universiade from other events ly age. Competing in her home At her fi rst World Champion- Th e ever-cautious He isn’t will- Games. is that I represent not only China pool at the Shenzhen Universiade ships the following year, she won ing to make a prediction about “I have to take more training to but also my university, Renmin made her feel comfortable. her fi rst world championship on next year’s Olympics. improve,” Espinosa said. University of China,” said He, a “This is my first Universiade the 1m springboard. “I dare not to think about the “I have to improve on the plat- journalism major. and I came back to the city that Aft er Guo declared her retire- result at the London Games. I form, and I also want to do well on He collected 384.70 points from brought me up, so I feel at ease ment at the beginning of this still need to improve my dives the springboard.” fi ve dives in the fi nal to win the here,” the 20-year-old said. year, He teamed with veteran Wu through training,” she said..