Unstoppable: Chinese divers complete clean sweep

“It’s not that hard for me.”
“I think I performed well, as normal.”

These were the first comments from China’s Huang Zigan and Wang Weiying after their victory in the mixed team diving final, giving them three and four gold medals, respectively, at the Chengdu FISU World University Games.

Yamasaki Karen (Japan) in the mixed team finalIf it sounds like winning has become the norm for Chinese divers… it’s because it has.

At least here in Chengdu.

Thanks to four triumphs in as many events on Monday, the host nation completed a clean sweep of all 15 diving gold medals at the FISU Games. 

China’s other victories on the final day of diving at the Jianyang Cultural and Sports Centre Natatorium came in the men’s 10m platform, courtesy of Huang, as well as in the women’s and men’s team events.

Huang set the tone early in the afternoon with a total score of 551.55 points at the platform. He distanced teammate Yang Ling (528.85) and Shin Jungwhi

Kim Nahyun (Korea) performs in the mixed team final

 from South Korea (411.60).

“I just had to focus on myself, perform well and avoid making mistakes,” said silver medallist Yang, competing in his first international meet. “I definitely felt more relaxed in the last competition today.”

Huang and Wang followed with a mind-boggling 94-point victory over Japan in the mixed final, with Korea taking bronze.

China then dominated the women’s team event by over 900 points and the men’s team competition by over 800.

To be clear, the host country’s domination has not been limited to one sport over the past 11 days in Sichuan’s provincial capital.  

With only one final left in the Games on Tuesday, in men’s water polo, Chinese athletes have more first-place finishes at 100 than Japan has medals, as they sit second in the standings with 90.

WRITTEN BY ANNIKA SAUNUS, FISU YOUNG REPORTER