World Aquatics Championships 2023: Australia's Cassiel Rousseau denies Chinese divers golden sweep in men's 10m platform

Paris 2024

The Australian stunned Lian Junjie and Yang Hao to take gold in the 13th and final diving event in Fukuoka after Zhu Zifeng/Lin Shan had won the mixed 3m synchro springboard.

3 minBy Shintaro Kano
Australia's Cassiel Rousseau (R) celebrates his 10m platform diving gold at Fukuoka 2023 as bronze medallist Yang Hao looks on

(2023 Getty Images)

Australia's Cassiel Rousseau won the men's 10m platform on Saturday (22 July) to deny the People's Republic of China a sweep of diving gold medals at the World Aquatics Championships 2023.

The diving competition drew to a close in dramatic fashion in Fukuoka as Rousseau (520.85) stunned the Chinese duo of Lian Junjie (512.35) and Yang Hao (504.00) to capture his first global medal.

Rousseau took the lead after his fifth dive when Lian underwhelmed with an effort which scored just 70.20.

All three contenders saved their most difficult dive, the forward four-and-a-half somersault in tuck position, for last.

And Rousseau made no mistake as he scored 98.05 - the same mark as Lian - to stay in front and take gold.

The 22-year-old - who was fifth in the men's synchro 10m platform and helped Australia to fourth in the mixed team event - admitted to being surprised by the outcome despite feeling confident beforehand.

He said, "Coming straight off the final I can't remember it as such, but I do know that most of my dives were very good.

"It was actually amazing. Before my final dive I could just hear everyone screaming. I think that was because I was beating the Chinese and obviously beating the Chinese is to do something incredible. So everyone just came together as a whole - all the teams, all the countries.

"They just wanted me to win. That was the spectacular part about winning as well. I'm always confident but not in a cocky way. But I didn't expect to come first. It was surprising."

China had moved to within one gold of the sweep earlier on Saturday when Zhu Zifeng and Lin Shan won the mixed synchronised 3m springboard.

China swept all 13 golds at last year's Worlds in Budapest, just the third time a team topped the podium in every diving event.

Results from men's 10m platform at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, Fukuoka

  1. Cassiel Rousseau (AUS) 520.85
  2. Lian Junjie (CHN) 512.35
  3. Yang Hao (CHN) 504.00
  4. Noah Williams (GBR) 499.10
  5. Kyle Kothari (GBR) 497.35
  6. Oleksii Sereda (UKR) 475.55
  7. Nathan Zsombor-Murray (CAN) 468.00
  8. Randal Willars Valdez (MEX) 465.55
  9. Isaac Souza Filho (BRA) 447.50
  10. Bertrand Anak Lises (MAS) 442.35
  11. Kim Yeongtaek (KOR) 405.85
  12. Tamai Rikuto (JPN) WD

Mixed synchronised 3m springboard gold medallists Lin Shan and Zhu Zifeng

(World Aquatics)

Results from mixed synchronised 3m springboard at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, Fukuoka (top six):

  1. Zhu Zifeng/Lin Shan (CHN) 326.10
  2. Maddison Keeney/Domonic Bedgood (AUS) 307.38
  3. Chiara Pellacani/Matteo Santoro (ITA) 294.12
  4. Yi Jaegyeong/Kim Suji (KOR) 281.46
  5. Emilia Nilsson/Elias Petersen (SWE) 276.60
  6. Jahir Ocampo/Aranza Vazquez (MEX) 273.90
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