Diving took an exciting twist this weekend as Olympic champions Chen Yuxi and Wang Zongyuan soared to victory at the World Aquatics Diving World Cup Super Final in Beijing. The event, featuring a brand new head-to-head format, had fans on the edge of their seats 🤿.
Under this new setup, the top 12 individual divers were seeded and paired based on rankings, with each athlete performing three carefully chosen dives. The lower scorer in every matchup was eliminated, paving the way for a high-stakes semifinal and final that tested every competitor's skills and nerves.
In the women’s 10-meter platform event, top seed Chen Yuxi dazzled the crowd by scoring 432.15 points in the heats and semifinals, and then sealing her gold with 431.25 points in the final round. Despite a tough challenge from her competitor Quan Hongchan, who earned 409.80 points after minor errors, Chen’s consistency and precision shone through.
Not to be outdone, China’s diving star Wang Zongyuan also clinched a gold medal in the men’s competition, marking another milestone in the debut of this thrilling format 🏆.
This new head-to-head style not only ups the adrenaline but also demands rapid adjustments throughout the contest. Reflecting on her experience, Chen Yuxi said, "I have never competed like this before, with three big battles within two days… It is a huge challenge and a new lesson for me in dealing with the new competition format." Quan Hongchan added that the intense schedule, encompassing head-to-head rounds, semifinals, and the final in under an hour, was a true test of both energy and focus.
Overall, the Super Final in Beijing proved to be a game-changer for competitive diving, blending tradition with innovation and inspiring a new generation of athletes and fans alike.
Reference(s):
Chen Yuxi, Wang Zongyuan win golds at Diving World Cup Super Final
cgtn.com
