Brazilians fall in preliminary, Chinese dominate springboard at IAAF World Championships – 07/15/2023

Brazilians Rafael Fugasa and Rafael Max competed in the preliminary event of the 3-meter synchronized springboard last Friday night and were unable to advance to the World Aquatics Championships. The Brazilian duo finished 22nd and were eliminated in the final of the race held on Saturday.

The Brazilian duo made some mistakes along their six jump rounds and ended up with a total of 301.68, just outside the top 12 for the finals. The two also competed in the 1-meter diving springboard at the World Cup in Fukuoka, Japan. Rafael Fugacha ranked 27th overall after earning 311.35 points. Rafael Max came in 40th with a score of 285.65.

The first place in the preliminary heats went to the Chinese Wang Zongyuan and Long Daoyi, who also won the trampoline final on Saturday, with a score of 456.33. In the first Olympic event with specific medals. The British duo Jack Luger and Anthony Harding took the second place (424.62 points), and the French Jules Bouyet and Alexis Jandard took the bronze (389.10 points). All three countries guarantee a place in the Paris Olympics.

China also dominated the women’s diving this morning. In the 1 meter springboard, the Asians won gold and silver medals, with Lin Shan and Li Yaji respectively. The bronze went to Mexico’s Aranza Vazquez Montano. Brazilians Ana Lucia Santos and Luana Lira failed to qualify for the method finals. China still has a gold medal in the synchronized platform Mistra with Wang Feilong and Zhang Jiaqi. Japan also took home a medal in the women’s individual artistic swimming with Yukino Inoue.

Also on Friday, Ana Marcela Cunha finished fifth in the 10km Aguas Apertas at the Fukuoka World Championships, a result that leaves her without a place at next year’s Paris Olympics. The first place on the podium was won by German Leonie Buck, followed by Australian Chelsea Gubica and American Katie Grimes.