China's Fu Leads for Semifinals of Women's SpringboardDefending champion Fu Mingxia of China overtook her teammate in the last round to lead for the semifinals of the three-meter springboard diving competitions Wednesday in Sydney.Fu, world platform champion at the age of 12 in 1991, led the five-dive preliminary series with 342.75 points, beating 18-year-old compatriot Guo Jingjing to second with 332.67. Yulia Pakhalina of Russia, who together with Vera Ilyina won Saturday's inaugural synchronised three-meter springboard, ranked third with 316.08. Fu, who retired after winning both the platform and springboard titles at the 1996 Atlanta Games, returned to international competition at the 1999 World University Games in Palma. Should Fu retain her springboard crown, she will join Americans Pat McCormick and Greg Louganis as the only divers in history to win four Olympic golds. |
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