Abel adds to medal haul
BUDAPEST, Hungary Canada’s Jennifer Abel finished third for her second-ever bronze in the women’s three-metre springboard competition on Friday at the world championships.
Olympic champion Shi Tingmao led a China 1-2 in the event, winning ahead of Wang Han to claim China’s ninth straight gold in this event, and its seventh in 11 diving events in Budapest so far.
Abel, from Laval, Que., won bronze in 2011 when she also finished behind two Chinese divers as well.
“This world championships has a big value for me, because it was my time to turn the page from the Olympic Games, and I did it really good,” said Abel, who was fourth in Rio last year. “I’m really going to leave Budapest with a smile.”
The last two diving finals are scheduled for Saturday.
Shi also won on Monday with Chang Yani in the 3metre springboard synchronized dive.
“I need to work harder in order to achieve a higher score and win more gold medals,” Shi said.
Chinese divers have won 20 of the last 21 Olympic and world titles in women’s three-metre springboard since 1986.
Earlier, Russia again showed its class in synchronized swimming, taking the women’s team free title for its sixth gold from seven competitions.
The only slip-up was a silver behind Italy in mixed duet technical, a relatively new, non-Olympic event in which men are allowed to compete.
But Russia has won each of six editions of the team free at the worlds.
Vlada Chigireva, Maria Shurochkina, Veronika Kalinina, Maryna Goliadkina, Daria Bayandina, Anastasia Bayandina, Darina Valitova and Polina Komar were awarded a huge 97.3000 points for another almost perfect routine.
“The world championships provide us a great opportunity to be together and unite,” said Shurochkina, who, along with Chigireva, claimed her third consecutive world title in the event.
China was second, and Ukraine third.
In open water swimming on Lake Balaton, some 130 kilometres (80 miles) southwest of Budapest, Axel Reymond was the first of the 44 finishers in the 25 kilometre races. Defending champion Ana Marcela Cunha won the women’s race for her third world title.