Russia’s Pakhalina captures gold in one-meter springboard diving

ROME (AP) — Julia Pakhalina of Russia won the gold medal in women’s 1-meter springboard diving at the world championships Sunday, her first title at a worlds or Olympics in nine years.

Pakhalina led from start to finish and totaled 325.05 points through the five-dive final. Wu Minxia of China took the silver medal with 311.90 points and Wang Han of China was third with 303.95.

In the Olympic champions Chen Roulin and Wang Xin of China have won the gold medal in 10-meter synchronized diving at the world championships.

Chen and Wang compiled 369.18 points Sunday. Mary Beth Dunnichay and Haley Ishimatsu of the United States took the silver medal with 324.66 points and Mun Yee Leong and Pandelela Rinong Pamg of Malaysia were third with 321.66.

Pakhalina’s last major victory came in 3-meter synchronized at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She also won two golds at the 1998 worlds in Perth, Australia, in 3-meter springboard and 3-meter synchro.

“I’m still able to compete [after]all these years. It’s not a struggle but a joy,” the 31-year-old Pakhalina said.

Pakhalina won bronze in this event at the last worlds in Melbourne, Australia, two years ago, and silver in 3-meter springboard and 3-meter synchro at last year’s Beijing Olympics.

One-meter springboard is not an Olympic event.

In other events, Olympic champions Chen Roulin and Wang Xin of China won the gold medal in 10-meter synchronized diving and Olympic champion Russia won gold in team tech synchronized swimming.