Olympic: Zakharov breaks Chinese dominance for diving gold

London, Aug 8 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Ilya Zakharov of Russia took diving gold in the men's three-metre springboard Tuesday, breaking 20 years of Chinese dominance in the event.

The 21-year-old had the most difficult programme and snatched the gold medal from China's Qin Kai with his sixth dive, a forward four-and-a-half somersault, for 104.50 points to total 555.90.

Qin Kai notched up 541.75 points, leaving his compatriot and Beijing gold medalist He Chong with the bronze medal.

Britain's 19-year-old Chris Mears performed the second-best dive for 100.7 points but couldn't manage higher than ninth.

Zakharov added this gold medal to the silver that he won in three-metre synchronised springboard competition with Evgeny Kuznetsov.

He is the first non-Chinese diver to win the event since Mark Lenzi of the US won it at Barcelona 1992.

China wrapped up all four gold medals in synchronised diving.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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