Xie wins 3-meter springboard gold after Laugher falters

Xie wins 3-meter springboard gold after Laugher falters

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 4:32 p.m. ET

GWANGJU, South Korea (AP) — Defending champion Xie Siyi of China won the men's 3-meter springboard final Thursday after Jack Laugher of Britain faltered in his last dive at the world swimming championships.

It extended China's perfect run at the championships to 10 gold medals in 10 diving events.

Laugher led all the way until he only scored 30.6 points in his sixth dive, and had to settle for bronze with 504.55 points. Xie scored 102.60 points in his last dive for a total of 545.45. Cao Yuan of China finished second with 517.85 points.

"I looked at the scoreboard after the third round and then I focused on myself," Xie said. "I did not watch Jack's last dive but I comforted him before the awarding ceremony."

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Laugher said he simply made a mistake in his last dive.

"I hit the wall with my right fist after I saw the results," Laugher said. "When you could potentially make history and do such a good performance and then you make the mistake, I was really angry."

Alexandre Despatie of Canada was the last non-Chinese diver to win gold in the 3-meter springboard event at the 2005 worlds in Montreal.

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