Ilya Zakharov of Russia took diving gold in the men’s three-meter springboard Tuesday, breaking 20 years of Chinese dominance in the event.
The 21-year-old had the most difficult program 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-meter synchronized springboard competition with Evgeny Kuznetsov.
He is the first non-Chinese diver to win the event since Mark Lenzi of the United States won it at Barcelona 1992.
China wrapped up all four gold medals in synchronized diving.
