Chinese Divers Always Good: Rivals

The three runaway successes for China in the first two days of the Universiade's diving program do not appear to upset their rivals, with foreign competitors continuing to air appreciation for Chinese divers as before.

"Chinese divers are always good," said Rachelle Kunkel from the United States, who finished fourth in the women's 1m springboard Thursday, behind China's Guo Jingjing and Li Rongjuan, who achieved a one-two in that first contest of the 10-event diving program.

That first victory for China was quickly tripled when China clinched two other one-two finishes in the men's 1m springboard and the women's platform, sweeping all gold and silver diving medals offered so far.

Kunkel admitted that playing at home is of advantage to Chinese divers, but she said she believes Chinese can carry it off anywhere. "Maybe not all £¨gold and silver medals£© went to China£¨if the competitions are held elsewhere£© but they still have the ability to do well in other countries, " she said.

Kunkel, who won a national title on the 3m springboard in April and placed eighth in the 1m springboard in Fukuoka World Championships last month, said she was not disappointed with her fourth finish in the final.

"I didn't come to beat Chinese. I came to beat myself. If I beat myself, I can be close to them," said the 23-year-old, who is studying nursing at the Brigham Young University in Utah.

"If they happen to make mistakes, I will be right there£¨in top three£©, " she said.

"For me, it's a motivation," Kunkel said of China's dominance of the diving pool.

Her sentiments were shared by other divers. "Chinese divers always won at competitions," said Rebecca Gilmore from Australia,who failed to make the women's platform semifinal on Friday.

She thinks the Chinese sweep of golds and silvers is nothing unusual, and she is not dismayed by that. "It's good experience for me £¨to come and compete £©," Gilmore said, who is to take part in the 3m springboard Sunday.

"It's normal that the home crowd always cheer their divers, and the judges might give better marks to them," said Gilmore, a veteran diver who took a bronze in the women's synchronized platform at the Sydney Olympics.

"It's a bit unfair, but it's true. It's the same everywhere," Gilmore said, apparently not upset about it.






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