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Melbourne News
Boudia/Finchum win bronze in 10-meter synchro at Worlds
March 26, 2007
MELBOURNE, Australia – Team USA wrapped up the 12th FINA World Championships
with its best performance of the weeklong competition – a bronze medal in
the men's 10-meter synchronized diving event.
David Boudia and Thomas Finchum scored 463.56 points to place third behind
China's Huo Liang and Lin Yue (489.48) and Russia's Dmitriy Dobroskok and
Gleb Galperin (467.16) in the final event of the meet.
It was the U.S.'s first medal of the Championships after taking fourth in
three other events.
“We've been so close on so many events, and it feels so good to have a
medal,” Finchum said. “It's not first, but third place in the world is not bad.”
By the end of the fourth round, the Chinese had all but wrapped up the gold
medal, but the Russians and the Americans were in a battle for the silver.
Heading into the final round, Boudia and Finchum led Dobroskok and Galperin
by less than a point.
Both teams ended with a back 2 ˝ with 2 ˝ twists, and the Russians slightly
outscored Boudia and Finchum to move into the second spot.
“We just wanted to go out and dive well,” Boudia said. “It was a lot of fun,
and the crowd was going wild. This will really help us prepare for Beijing.”
Boudia and Finchum won the preliminary round, finishing .06 points ahead of
the Chinese with 446.70 points.
“To beat the Chinese in the prelims was just awesome, and I'm really happy
with our performance in the finals,” Boudia said.
The medal came after a disappointing outing in the 10-meter individual event
earlier in the week. Neither diver advanced to the semifinals, with Finchum
placing 19 th and Boudia 23 rd.
“Despite a sub-par individual performance, they continued to strive towards
their best, adjusting their routine and believing in themselves,” said John
Wingfield, who coaches the two 17-year-olds. “They came up with a phenomenal
synchro preliminary round and then grabbed the bronze in the final. I am
proud of them.”
In Monday's other final, the women's 3-meter synchro, Kelci Bryant and Ariel
Rittenhouse took 10 th with 286.80 points. The Chinese pair of Wu Minxia and
Guo Jingjing won gold with 355.80. Germany's Ditte Kotzian and Heike Fischer
scored 318.45 points for silver, and Australia's Sharleen Stratton and
Briony Cole were third at 313.14..
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