FINA/MIDEA Diving World Series

The FINA/Midea Diving World Series is a high-profile competition which offers an annual meeting opportunity for the world’s brightest diving stars. Launched in 2007 with three host organisers (Great Britain, China and Mexico), other countries have since joined the club (Qatar, Russia and the United Arab Emirates), definitely adding an international dimension to the event.

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For the sixth edition in 2013, the World Series will consist of six meets: No1 in Beijing (CHN) from March 15-17, No2 in Dubai (UAE) from March 21-23, No3 in Edinburgh (GBR) from April 19-21, No4 in Moscow (RUS) from April 26-28, No5 in Guadalajara (MEX) from May 17-19, and No6 in ~~Mexico City (MEX)~~ Guadalajara (MEX) from May 24-26.

The diving programme for men and women includes 3m springboard, 10m platform, 3m springboard synchro and 10m platform synchro.

This prestigious, exclusive event promotes awareness about which countries are renowned for the sport, while fostering the discipline’s growth in the host nations and other parts of the world. Overall, the Series also aims to increase international exposure to the sport of diving, which has been an Olympic sport for men since 1904 and women since 1912.

DWS 2012, Beijing: Chinese divers boil up "Water Cube" on Day 1

Diving World Series

Zhou Xin, FINA Press Correspondent in China

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Men's 3m Springboard Podium: Kai QIN (CHN), Chong HE (CHN) & Julian SANCHEZ (MEX) - credit: Jia Yuchen

Coming back to the "Water Cube", China's National Aquatic Center in Beijing, Chinese divers maintained the status quo on Day 1 of the second stage of the 2012 FINA/Midea Diving World Series 2012 by winning the four gold medals on offer, leaving the silver and bronze to divers from Mexico, Canada, USA, Great Britain, Germany and Malaysia.

Olympic and World Cup champion He Chong dominated the men's 3m springboard, winning in 548.70 points with a game-high 99.45 for his last dive - a Forward 2.5 Somersault 3 Twists, Pike. He led teammate Qin Kai for a 1-2 finish as Qin totalled 509.55 points. Mexico's Julian Sanchez was third with a score of 471.05, ahead of American veteran Troy Dumais and Canadian diving star Alexandre Despatie, who stunned the audience with brilliant performances.

DWS 2012, Dubai: Chinese reign supreme taking all 8 golds

Diving World Series

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Women’s 3m Springboard Gold Medalist Minxia WU (CHN) In a somewhat predictable, but nonetheless still thrilling result, the Chinese diving team reigned supreme this weekend at the FINA/Midea Diving World Series in Dubai. After collected four golds from four finals on the first night, China again proved their dominance of world diving by taking the final four events tonight.

In the first final of the evening, the women’s 3m springboard synchro, Wu Minxia showed her composure and experience, coming from behind to take the gold. She started slowly with a relatively low scoring dive which put her in fifth place, but showed her mettle by gradually building throughout the competition to take first place with her last dive. She top scored with her second last dive, collecting 81.00 points. Wu took gold by the smallest of margins, edging out countrywoman He Zi by just .70 of a point on her last dive, for China to take gold and silver.

DWS 2012, Dubai: China dominates on Day 1

Diving World Series

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Chen Ruolin (CHN) in action The world’s best divers demonstrated their talent and breath-taking skills tonight in the Day 1 finals of the FINA/Midea Diving World Series in Dubai. An appreciative 2000 strong crowd witnessed the first ever diving competition in Dubai and watched the Chinese dominance of diving continue with the star studded team taking all four gold medals on offer.

In the first event, the men’s 3m springboard final the World Champion He Chong did not disappoint with a convincing win over Illya Zakharov of Russia with He’s countryman Qin Kai third. He Chong started a little slowly with an uncharacteristic 75.00 point first dive, but quickly regained form and was never headed, remaining in first place throughout the competition.

Baja California prepares for Diving World Series 2012

Diving World Series

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The city of Tijuana will host the FINA Diving World Series from the 18th Thru the 22nd of April at the Aquatic Complex of the Baja California High Performance Center. This year the event will have a special taste for the local, national and foreign fans that wish to attend due to the proximity of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Many of the divers who will participate in this two-day competition will prepare at this stop prior to the Games in London. “We are working hard to have a great competition and to host a great event, we take it seriously and are very enthusiastic”, said Saul Castro Verdugo, General Director of the Baja California Sports Institute and head of the Organizing Committee.

DWS 2011 - Guanajuato, Day 2: Three more wins for China to conclude the 2011 Series

Diving World Series

Claudia Ruiz, FINA Press Correspondent in Mexico

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Qin Kai (CHN) - credit: Christian Palma China ended with a "concert of perfection" the fourth stage of the FINA/Midea Diving World Series, namely thanks to Qiu Bo, the “king” of the men's 10m platform, event that he won in the four legs of the series in Moscow, Beijing, Sheffield and Guanajuato.

In Mexico, the last event of the 2011 competition held on April 22-23, Qiu Bo received two perfect 10 from the judges and finished his six-dive effort with a total of 582.45 points and another gold medal in his pocket. World champion Thomas Daley (GBR) was also in great shape and obtained the silver medal with 562.80 points, while Rommel Pacheco (MEX), certainly inspired by the Mexican audience, got the bronze with 540.90 points.

DWS 2011 - Guanajuato, Day 1: Garcia and Sanchez win gold at home

Diving World Series

Claudia Ruiz, FINA Press Correspondent in Mexico

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Mexican public on cloud nine - credit: Christian Palma Mariachi music echoed in Guanajuato (MEX) when Mexican divers Ivan Garcia and German Sanchez got the gold medal in the synchronised 10m platform with 446.73 points, in what constituted one of the surprises of the inaugural day of the fourth and last leg of the FINA/MIDEA Diving World Series.

The Mexicans were very close to the podium in the three previous meets, but in Guanajuato they finally got their first win of the series. In a duel ahead of the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Garcia/Sanchez took over the lead in the third round and beat David Boudia/Thomas Finchum (USA), second with 437.10, and Jose Guerra/Jeinkler Aguirre (CUB), third with 433.71.

DWS 2011 - Sheffield, Day 2: China completes clean sweep

Diving World Series

British Swimming

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The final day of competition at the FINA/Midea Diving World Series saw the Chinese diving team re-affirm their dominance of international diving. The Chinese team secured gold in all four events on the second day in Sheffield, setting a marker for the diving world ahead of the World Championships in Shanghai this summer.

The Chinese team secured gold in all four events on the second day in Sheffield, setting a marker for the diving world ahead of the World Championships in Shanghai this summer.

The men’s 10m Platform, the sport’s blue riband event, saw elite diving at its best from all competitors throughout the competition.

China’s Qui Bo, who scored more than 600 points in the first two legs of this season’s World Series, looked on good form from his first dive, scoring 91.20.

His Armstand Back Triple Somersault piked saw him score six 10s as the crowd cheered his exit from the water.

Britain’s Tom Daley started the final well and lay in second place after the first two rounds but a mistake on his Armstand Back Triple Somersaults piked saw him lose ground, falling to the bottom of the leader board.

Daley picked up with his next two dives and while the podium places proved out of reach, he scored a season’s best 507.35 to finish fourth overall.

“To be able to get my highest score of the season when missing a dive for 5s and 5.5s is quite nice,” Daley said. “Obviously I am disappointed with one of my dives but I have just got to make sure I can try to improve and focus for my next competition in Mexico.

“My new dives are going quite well at the moment. I scored 9.5s for me Back 3.5 which is the best that I have done internationally. Overall I am really pleased with this weekend. My dives were a bit inconsistent in Moscow and Beijing so to come here and do so well has given me a bit of confidence for this season.”

Bo continued his excellence and he won gold with 586.55 points. His teammate Huo Liang captured silver with a score of 561.70 while USA’s David Boudia won bronze with a score of 534.55.

Peter Waterfield missed out on his place in the final by just 0.6 points after finishing fourth in his semi-final with a total of 468.15.

After making his return from an anterior cruciate ligament tear early last year, the British crowd cheered on Ben Swain as he made his return to competition with Nicholas Robinson-Baker in the 3m Synchro.

The British pair secured a respectable 100.80 points for their required dives and went into the third round in a strong position but it was the Chinese pair of Qin Kai and Luo Yutong that were dominating early on.

Kai and Yuntong were within reaching distance of the gold medal after their fourth dive and while they dropped their penultimate dive, they recovered with their final effort, scoring 9s to take gold with 460.23.

Silver went to Yahel Castillo and Daniel Islas (Mexico) with a score of 451.71 and the American pair of Troy Dumais and Kristian Ipsen scored 425.73 to take bronze.

Robinson-Baker and Swain finished seventh with a total of 395.88.

“I am feeling good after that performance,” Swain said. “I really wanted to do better but I got through the whole list without pain for the first time.

“It was great to be back on the boards with Nick again. It has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done to come back from injury and it felt really good to be in front of the home crowd.”

The women’s 10m Synchro saw Chinese pair, Roulin Chen and Hao Wang, secure the gold with a twenty point lead on the field.

Chen and Wang took an impressive 347.46 points to take the victory ahead of Meaghan Benfeito and Roseline Filion (Canada).

Chen said after the win: “The first two dives we have are easy ones and then our coach told us to get more focused to do much better. We aren’t always confident about winning the competition but we are good competitors and we try hard to compete our best.”

Benfeito and Filion finished with 325.71 for the silver while Australia’s Melissa Wu and Alexandra Croak took bronze with 325.26 points.

Britain’s Rebecca Gallantree and Megan Sylvester finished in fifth place with a score of 294.90. They showed impressive synchronicity after just two training sessions together.

He Zi won her second individual gold of this season’s FINA/Midea Diving World Series in the 3m Springboard after putting in a consistent performance throughout the final.

She was the only diver in the final to score a 10 and put the competition out of reach with her penultimate dive, scoring 82.50 for an excellent Reverse 2 ½ Somersaults piked.

Zi finished with a total of 396.95 to win gold. Silver went to her team-mate Minxia Wu who took a total of 370.35 while Canada’s Jennifer Abel scored 341.40 for bronze.

Gallantree finished in sixth place in the second semi-final with a score of 263.60The final day of competition at the FINA/Midea Diving World Series saw the Chinese diving team re-affirm their dominance of international diving. The Chinese team secured gold in all four events on the second day in Sheffield, setting a marker for the diving world ahead of the World Championships in Shanghai this summer.

The men’s 10m Platform, the sport’s blue riband event, saw elite diving at its best from all competitors throughout the competition. China’s Qui Bo, who scored more than 600 points in the first two legs of this season’s World Series, looked on good form from his first dive, scoring 91.20. His Armstand Back Triple Somersault piked saw him score six 10s as the crowd cheered his exit from the water.

DWS 2011 - Sheffield, Day 1: Daley and Waterfield conquer world’s best for gold

Diving World Series

British Swimming

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Thomas Daley and Peter Waterfield had a sell out Sheffield crowd on their feet as they stormed to 10m Synchro gold in the FINA/Midea Diving World Series.

In only their second international competition together, the British duo held off five of the world’s top pairs to claim victory with 449.43 points.

Daley and Waterfield performed steady required dives and lay in fourth place after the first two rounds. As the competition entered the optional dives, the harder phase of the competition, the pair held their nerve to perform consistently.

The Brits scored 92.88 on their final dive, the Back 2 ½ Somersaults 2 ½ Twists piked, to hold onto their lead and when the Chinese pair dropped their final dive Daley and Waterfield cheered their win.

“We are so happy to have won that gold in only our second international competition,” Daley said. “It is great to see that our partnership is improving every time we compete. Our hardest dive the Front 4 ½ was one of the best that we have done. We are lucky we have natural timing but we missed our first two optional dives and we want to improve that a lot.”

“We are going to Mexico and the World Championships next,” Waterfield said. “It is a new partnership but we seem to be working well together. The 4 ½ is our newest dive but it saved us today so we are both glad that we are using.”

Cao and Zhang ultimately won silver with 443.82 and bronze went to Sascha Klein and Patrick Hausding (Germany) with a total of 427.59.

China’s Qin Kai struck gold to continue his domination of this season’s men’s 3m Springboard event.

Defending World Series Champion Kai – who won both previous legs in Moscow and Beijing this term – took over the lead at the half way point and never looked back on the way to scoring 547.70.

Kai’s fifth dive was the highlight of the set as he scored 106.40 for Front 4 ½ Somersaults tucked. China’s Olympic and World Champion He Chong finished second with 531.15 while USA’s Troy Dumais took bronze with 507.65.

“I am happy to win the gold,” Kai said. “I have now had many chances to practice my Front 4 ½ dive and it is becoming more stable. I learnt the dive a year ago and a few months ago I was still having some problems with it but it is getting much better now.”

Great Britain’s double world junior champion Jack Laugher impressed to score an international pb of 436.90.

And while his score would have been good enough to progress from the first semi-final, he missed out on qualification from his semi by an agonising 14 points.

Zi He and Minxia Wu dominated the women’s 3m Synchro with a performance that saw them score consistently throughout the five rounds.

After the required dives the Chinese pair had a total of 107.40 points and their highest scoring dive came in the fourth round.

The pair, that also won the gold in the Beijing leg of the event, executed their Reverse 2 ½ Somersaults piked scored a total of 80.10 points as they moved twenty points into the lead.

He and Wu finished with a total of 334.20 points to win their gold. Canada’s Jennifer Abel and Emilie

Heymans won the silver with a score of 315.00 while Tania Cagnotto and Francesca Dallape (Italy) took bronze with 303.60 points.

Rebecca Gallantree and Alicia Blagg were competing in their first leg of the series together and secured fifth place with a score of 294.00.

“That performance felt really good,” Gallantree said. “It was the first time we performed that list internationally, after adding a more difficult dive, and we’re both really pleased with the score.

“That’s our best result since the Commonwealth Games and shows, at an early stage in the season, how far we’ve come as a pair. Diving here in Sheffield is an amazing experience in front of a sell out crowd and they kept us focused throughout.”

Blagg added: “The home crowd was amazing and just fed my adrenalin. I was very nervous before but didn’t let them get the better of me and affect my performance. There were a lot of positives to take from that performance.”

China’s World Cup champion Hu Yadan struck gold in the last event of the night – the women’s 10m Platform.

The final was a straight shoot-out between Hu and Olympic champion Chen Ruolin with both divers adopting the same list.

But Hu stormed to victory over her more experienced rival, outscoring Chen on all five dives to win with 442.00 with her teammate finishing on 408.60.

Mexico’s world champion Paola Espinosa picked up bronze with her score of 356.10.

Great Britain’s Jenny Cowen held off the nerves on her World Series debut to score 297.50 for seventh place overall.

Thomas Daley and Peter Waterfield had a sell out Sheffield crowd on their feet as they stormed to 10m Synchro gold in the FINA/Midea Diving World Series. In only their second international competition together, the British duo held off five of the world’s top pairs to claim victory with 449.43 points. Daley and Waterfield performed steady required dives and lay in fourth place after the first two rounds. As the competition entered the optional dives, the harder phase of the competition, the pair held their nerve to perform consistently.

Their Front 4 ½ Somersaults tucked dive is the hardest dive in their list and scored 8s and 9s to move into the lead ahead of the China’s World Cup champions Yuan Cao and Yanquang Zhang with one round to go. The Brits scored 92.88 on their final dive, the Back 2 ½ Somersaults 2 ½ Twists piked, to hold onto their lead and when the Chinese pair dropped their final dive Daley and Waterfield cheered their win.

DWS 2011 - Beijing, Day 2: Qiu Bo perfect in the platform, completes China's total sweep

Diving World Series

Zhou Xin, FINA Press Correspondent in China

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Qiu Bo (CHN) - credit: Li Linlin In a perfect-mark showdown against younger teammate Cao Yuan, 2010 DWS winner in the platform Qiu Bo of China received no less than 25 perfect 10s to score a historic 609.20 in the 10m event, completing China's total sweep of all eight events in the second leg of the 2011 FINA/Midea Diving World Series in Beijing from March 25-26.

Qiu and Cao collected 51 perfect marks altogether in front of the full-house cheering fans at the Water Cube. Qiu, 18, received 10s from all the judges for his second dive (Armstand Backward Triple Somersault, Pike) and third (Reverse 3 1/2 Somersault Tuck), producing three dives over 100 points, while his "poorest" performance was the starting dive (Inward 3 1/2 Somersault, Tuck) with a 94.40. It was Qiu's Forward 4 1/2 Somersault, Tuck, which helped him secure the gold medal for a day-high 111.00 points.

DWS 2011 - Beijing, Day 1: Ruolin Chen repeats 2008 Olympic feat at "Water Cube"

Diving World Series

Zhou Xin, FINA Press Correspondent in China

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Ruolin Chen (CHN) - credit: Li Linlin Chen's hard-fought victory wrapped up a perfect day for the hosts who swept all four titles on offer at the "Water Cube" on the opening day of the second leg of the FINA/Midea Diving World Series in Beijing, China.

Chen, double winner at the Beijing Olympic Games, led the rankings for the first three dives until 14-year-old teammate Hu snatched the top position. But Chen, repeating the same performance that led her to success in 2008, earned two perfect 10s and five 9.5 marks, totalling a victorious 426 points. Hu was 2.95 points behind and had to settle for the silver. The bronze was reserved for Australia's Alexandra Croak with a score of 357.50.

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