Wu primed to lead China to another golden windfall
China’s Wu Minxia will make her bid to become the most decorated female Olympic diver at the Rio de Janeiro Games, fronting an attempt by her country to sweep all eight titles next month at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre.
The 30-year-old, who equaledherformerdivingpartner’s Guo Jingjing’s record of four gold medals at the 2012 Olympics, will lead China’s 13-member team, which is expected to dominate after winningsixoutofeightgoldsat test events in February.
China also won six of the eight titles at the London Games.
Among the nation’s other headline gold medal hopes are Qiu Bo, who won silver in the men’s 10-meter platform event in 2012, and 15-year-old Ren Qian, who scored a perfect 10 at the February test event in the women’s category.
China’s diving team leader, Zhou Jihong, formerly a women’s platform Olympic champion, has remained cautious over the country’s chances, saying China “had no advantage in the men’s events” and warned that “dark horses” lurked in the women’s platform events.
“It is very hard. Our rivals are at a high level, very experienced and at the same time very young,” Zhou was quoted by Xinhua news agency about the men’s events.
The major competition for the Chinese men will come from David Boudia of the US, who will defend his 10-meter platform gold at his third Olympics, and Britain’s Tom Daley, who took the bronze in London.
In the three-meter event, Jamaica’s first Olympic male diver, Yona Knight-Wisdom, has been tipped as a contender after he clinched his spot by winningasurprisesilvermedal during the February test event.
Wu, however, will not be defending her individual three-meter springboard gold and will instead compete in the synchronized event with teammate Shi Tingmao.
DPR Korea is pinning its medal hopes on teenager Kim Kuk-hyang in the women’s 10-meter event after she won her country’s first gold at last year’s world championships.
While China dominated the test event, the venue has been the subject of some concern over its outdoor setting, which could see weather changes test divers’ performances, especially during Brazil’s winter.
The facility has also experienced some temporary power cuts during recent competitions.