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Fu fails to make history as Russians win syncho diving
SYDNEY, Sept 23 (AFP) - Former child prodigy Fu Mingxia failed in her bid for a fourth Olympic gold here Saturday, when she and Chinese partner Guo Jinging were defeated in the synchronized springboard event by Russian pair Vera Ilina and Ioulina Pakhalina. The Russian duo scored a total of 332.64 points after five dives in this event making its Olympic debut in Sydney compared to the Chinese pair's 321.60. Ukrainians Ganna Sorokina and Olena Zhupina were third on 290.34 points. Fu, who became the youngest diving world champion aged 12 years before being crowned Olympic champion the following year, had been bidding to overtake Americans Greg Louganis and Pat McCormick, who have four golds apiece, as the most titled Olympic diver in history. Burned out as an 18-year-old, Fu had ended a post-Atlanta retirement to come in her bid to become the first diver ever to win five gold medals. But Atlanta silver medallist Ilina and Pakhalina, were both too strong on the springboard and were the strongest challengers to Fu and Guo. However, 22-year-old Fu could still achieve a record-equalling fourth gold in the women's springboard event which gets undeway on September 27.
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