U.S Dives For Gold

Wilkinson claims first gold for USA diving - Dumais earns silver on 3-meter

To the wild cheers of a full house at the Nassau County Goodwill Games Swimming & Diving Center, Laura Wilkinson dove for gold on the women’s 10-meter platform.

"I’m just really excited," exclaimed Wilkinson. "The crowd was great…they really pumped me up." Her win marked the first diving gold for the U.S. and the biggest win of Wilkinson’s career. "I am really happy that I’ve been able to support my country."

Wilkinson entered the women’s event seeded second, behind Russian Olena Zhupyna, the current world champion. But it was Cai Yuyan, from China, who pushed Wilkinson. "I realized the competition was close, but I just tried to take it easy," noted Cai. Zhupyna dove for fourth, behind China’s new rising star Sang Xue.

"This performance was acceptable…I know I could do better," remarked Sang. "I feel really happy to get the bronze medal, especially because it was my first time in an international competition." The aquatics center also exploded with applause for the silver medal awarded to Californian Troy Dumais in diving’s afternoon session.

Dumais, a rising freshman at the University of Texas, finished second on the men’s 3-meter springboard. Dmitry Sautin, considered the best male diver in the world today, took home the gold. Dumais, however, was undaunted by Sautin’s dominance. "[Dmitry] is a machine," Dumais noted. "He’s a great diver, but it is possible to beat him in the near future."

China’s Zhou Yilin earned the bronze on men’s 3-meter. Other U.S. hopefuls, Bryan Gillooly, Mark Ruiz and Kevin McMahon finished eighth, 10th and 12th, respectively.