As the only member who attended the Beijing Olmpic Games without a gold medal in the Chinese team, Zhou Lvxin proved he was still one of the best on the men's 10-meter platform after he claimed victory at the 15th FINA Diving Grand Prix on Saturday.
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Zhou Lvxin won the title of the men's 10-meter platform at the 15th FINA Diving Grand Prix on Saturday. [Xinhua] |
Led from the preliminary and semifinals, Zhou dominated the finals most of the time with seven 10-points in six dives, winning the title in 573.50 points.
Lin Yue from China, synchro platform champion at the Olympic Games, came to second in 529.70. Russian Minibaev Victor scored a day-high 106.40 for his last dive and 508.20 in total.
China had swept seven gold medals out of eight on offer at the Olympic Games in 2008, leaving the men's platform title to Matthew Micham of Australia.
Zhou, runner-up behind Micham at the Water Cube, admitted he had experienced a nightmare period in his life after the Olympic Games last year but rescued by his new coach Hu Enyong.
Zhou said: "I want to dedicate my victory today to my coach. He helped me rebuild confidence and made me stronger and tougher."
"I want to prove myself that I'm not a loser any more," Zhou said.
The men's and women's 3m springboard will be the last two events of the Grand Prix which ends on Feb. 15.
(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2009)