Guo Jingjing Wins First Diving Gold for China

Guo Jingjing Wins First Diving Gold for China

---

China took the first diving gold at the Universiade Thursday when Guo Jingjing and teammate Li Rongjuan achieved a one-two finish in the 1m springboard event.

Guo, 19, took the gold with a total of 309.51 points for her five dives in the final. Li Rongjuan, 21, won the silver with 285. 51 points, before Russia's Natalia Oumyskova who got bronze with 281.16 points.

Guo, who won both individual and synchronized gold in the 3m springboard at the Fukuoka World Championships last month, was third after the second round. But she made up in the following round and came to top with 179.85 points, nine points clear of her leading rival, Russian Natalia Oumyskova. Then she held the lead to the end of the final.

"The 1m springboard is not what I'm best at. Three-meter springboard is better for me," Guo said after the victory at the Tsinghua University. "I've been training hard for this Universiade. "

"I always try my best at competitions, no matter it's an international one or a national one," said Guo, who is now studying sports training at the Beijing University of Physical Education.

Guo, who finished second in the 3m springboard at the Sydney Olympics last year behind teammate Fu Minxia, said she will strive for an Olympic gold.

"I didn't get gold at the Sydney Olympics, so my biggest goal right now is to win a gold medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004," said Guo.