Chinese diver He Chong ready for London Olympics

Updated: 2012-04-15 10:57

(Xinhua)

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MOSCOW - With just over 100 days to go before the London Olympics, Chinese star diver He Chong exudes confidence about his title defence at the 2012 Games.

"I am ready for the Olympics," He told Xinhua Saturday in an exclusive interview during the Diving World Series Moscow stop.

Without a doubt, He outshone his rivals to win the men's three-meter springboard title with 497.65 points at the two-day event in the Russian capital.

Despite the gold medal, the 25-year-old was not quite satisfied with his performance.

"I am not in good shape today, especially the last two dives, I am not satisfied with them," He said, adding that "Otherwise, I would have gained 20 points more."

He, who is hailed as "King of Difficulty" and famous for his 5156B dive which has a difficulty degree of 3.9, said that there is still room for improvement ahead of the Olympic Games.

"I need to perfect my techniques and try to keep my mindset under control during competitions," he said.

He admitted that Chinese teammates like Qin Kai would be his major threats in London, though Russian and US divers should not be underestimated.

The Chinese diving squad will next head to Tijuana, Mexico for the last stop of the 2012 Diving World Series, which is scheduled for April 20 and 21.

As the World Series require divers to travel frequently, it is really an energy-consuming event and sometimes may affect their performances, said He.

"Nevertheless, it is also a chance to strengthen the mind of athletes," he said with a smile.

"Furthermore, the international competitions as well as domestic events have helped me to adjust myself in different conditions and better gear up for the London Olympics."

He, who started diving at the age of six, could remember clearly how nervous and scared he was when he stood on the diving platform at the first time.

"Despite the wrist fracture and knee injuries, I've never gave up diving, because I love the sport," he said.

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