CHINA: DIVING: Eight Chinese divers showcase their Olympic gold-medal winning moves for an appreciative crowd in Hong Kong.

Record ID: 331129

  • Title: CHINA: DIVING: Eight Chinese divers showcase their Olympic gold-medal winning moves for an appreciative crowd in Hong Kong.
  • Date: 25th August 2012
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) HONG KONG RESIDENT, PURINA KOONG, SAYING: "I think they dive really well. They're very impressive. They have undergone long and arduous training. Today they have such results, they are great."
  • Embargoed: 9th September 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA2SB6SAL4W1QEI3B72Y97G5H5N
  • Story Text: Eight Chinese Olympic divers showed off their medal winning moves in front of more than 1,000 people in Hong Kong on Saturday (August 25).
    The athletes were in the former British colony for a three-day visit after China achieved a clean sweep in all four synchronised diving events and bagged the two women's individual diving medals at the London Olympics earlier this month.
    But the team suffered two upsets when gold-medal favourite Qiu Bo missed out on a men's 10m platform diving gold, and when Russian diver Ilya Zakharov beat Chinese divers Qin Kai and He Chong to win the men's 3m springboard.
    The eight divers' somersaults, twists and turns prompted appreciative gasps from the Hong Kong audience as they showed off their skills.
    "They have worked hard and sacrificed much, they deserve this. I'm very happy. As a Chinese I feel very proud," said housewife Jenny See.
    "I think they dive really well. They're very impressive. They have undergone long and arduous training. Today they have such results, they are great," said Hong Kong resident Purina Koong.
    Apart from their medal-winning routines, two male divers also plunged into the pool holding each other by the legs, delighting the surprised audience.
    Wu Minxia, who is set to retire with six Olympic diving medals under her belt, drew exceptional cheers and applause from the crowd.
    In the London 2012 Games, China took gold in 38 events and finished second place in the medals tally, behind the United States which won 46 gold medals.
    Sun Yang, the first Chinese to win an Olympic gold in a male swimming event, attended Saturday's event along with other medal-winning swimmers but did not give a demonstration.
    The athletes were due to leave Hong Kong on Sunday (August 26).
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