He Zi conquers Women’s 3m Springboard semi-final: Day five – 18th FINA Diving World Cup
The two-time World champion and Chinese veteran, He Zi conquered top qualification spot in the Women’s 3m Springboard qualifying round on day five of the 18th Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA) Visa Diving World Cup 2012 at the
Aquatics Centre, Olympic Park in London on Friday, February 24.
The 21-year-old Zi, who qualified into the semi-final as second best diver behind her team-member, Wu Minxia, elevated her efforts in the second round of the 3m Springboard to seize top spot in the event.
Zi gave no chance to Minxia to fight back and upset her by securing top position of the event. She is the gold medallist of 1m Springboard at the 2007 Melbourne World Championships. She also claimed the title of Synchronised 3m Springboard while earned a
silver medal in the 3m Springboard individual discipline at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai.
Zi gathered a phenomenal score of 360.75 points to prove her eligibility for the finest qualification spot. She remained nearly 24 points ahead of Minxia, who earned second position of the event by notching up 336.60 points.
The second position holder enjoyed an advantage of almost nine points over her following diver, Pamela Ware of Canada, who made her way into the final round as third best diver with an effort of 327.60 points.
Anna Lindberg of Sweden proved her mettle for the fourth finest spot of the discipline, as she remained almost three points behind Ware and gathered a total of 324.75 points. Lindberg was chased by Cassidy Krug of USA, who stayed just 1.65 points away from
her and notched 323.10 points.
Her team-member, Christina Loukas emerged on the overall rankings for sixth position as she obtained 318.50 points.
Rebecca Gallantree of Great Britain remained seventh best finisher of the event as she seized 315.30 points. Olena Fedorova of Ukraine secured eighth best position of the event as she raked 310.70 points to enter the final round.
Nevertheless, a fierce battle is expected between ZI, who will try to sustain her position, and her teammate, Minxia, who will try to regain her position to claim gold medal of the event.
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