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ROME, Italy, July 20. TODAY's diving action at the FINA World Championships featured early rounds of the women's three-meter and men's 10-meter platform events.
China's Guo Jingjing led the way in the women's three-meter semifinal round with 368.10 points. She opened up with a 72-point dive and never looked back, averaging 70s in each round outside of a surprising 65.10 during the third round. She never trailed throughout the five rounds.
Canada's Jennifer Abel qualified second with 351.65 points. She started off in a threeway tie with Guo and China's He Zi with 72 points in the first round, before posting 66 and 73 point dives the rest of the way. She edged He, who claimed third in qualifying with 351.45 points.
Italy's Tania Cagnotto (334.65), United States' Christina Loukas (318.30) and Australia's Briony Cole (317.30) made up the rest of the top six qualifiers.
China's Qiu Bo paced the men's 10-meter platform preliminary round with 515.75 points. His best dive came in the fourth round with 97.20 points.
Cuba's Jose Antonio Guerra Oliva finished second with 515.65 points, but had a much bumpier of a ride. He notched three scores more than 90 points with a 97.20, 91.20 and 93.10 during the six-dive list. However, he also had to count a few 70s.
China's Zhou Luxin qualified third with 495.55 points, including a 91.80-point dive during the fourth round.
Australia's Matthew Mitcham (491.50), Great Britain's Thomas Daley (475.80) and Mexico's Rommel Pacheco (473.85) were the rest of the top six qualifiers, while David Boudia of the U.S. finished seventh with 472.60 points.