Mexica's Yahel Castillo, who is expected to pose serious threat to world's best divers, had his first train session in the Water Cube for the Beijing Olympic Games on Thursday.
The Mexican was famous for the difficulty degree of his dive. He can make the most difficult dive with a difficulty degree of 3.9.
"I will do my best in the Olympic Games," said the 21-year-old, who beat Chinese favorites Qin Kai and He Chong in the FINA Diving World Series in Mexico in April.
Qin and He have dominated the men's 3m springboard since 2006, but Casitillo managed to snatch a rare win.
"It is my first Olympics and it really means a lot to me," said the 21-year-old. "The 3m springboard is very difficult because there are lots of talented divers, like the Chinese divers, Russia's Sautin and Canadian Despatie."
"I can't say I am not nervous but I am very proud that I can compete with those great divers, especially Sautin," Castillo said.
"I am quite in form, both physically and mentally," Castillo said.
It will be the second time for him to compete in the Water Cube following his appearance in the FINA Diving World Cup in February, when he claimed a bronze.
"I like the Water Cube very much," he said. "It's more beautiful now."
(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2008)