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Kim wins first ever world champion for DPR Korea

Xinhua, July 31, 2015 Adjust font size:

Coming from behind, the 16-year-old Kim Kuk Hyang snatched the women's 10m platform gold medal and awarded the Democratic People's Republic of Korea its first ever world title at the Kazan World Swimming Championships here on Thursday.

Kim had a slow start but came back to lead in the second and third dives. Her last dive 5253B also earned 91.20 points for a winning total of 397.05.

China's 14-year-old Ren Qian, who topped the preliminary and semi-finals, finished second in 388.00. Pandelela Rinong Pamg of Malaysia came to third 385.05 while the defending champion Si Yajie of China suffered a last dive slump and had to concede to a fourth place.

Kim, who competed in the worlds for the first time, said: "I would like to say thank you to all of your for your support. I am appreciated each and every moment of this final. I also want to express my gratitude to my nation for the great support I receive. I started in sport at the age of 12 and I train five hours a day, three hours in the morning and two hours in afternoon."

"My role model is the Chinese champpion diver Chen Ruolin and if I have the opportunity to compete against her I will try to do my best. This is my first international event and my next goal is to win the Olympic champion," Kim said.

Ren Qian also made her first international debut in Kazan. "It was my first World Championships and I was very nervous, especially when Kim earned high scores that made me more nervous. It was a pity that I did not perform my best today. I guess I can be stronger minded and more relaxed next time I compete in the worlds," Ren said.

The 19-time world champion Natalia Ishchenko and the 18-time champion Svetlana Romashina claimed title in the duet free routine in 98,200 points. Huang Xuechen/Sun Wenyan of China took the silvers in 95,9000. Lolita Ananasova/Anna Voloshina were the third.

In the mixed duet free, Aleksandr Maltsev/Darina Valitova of Russia showed their excellent artistic elements and high difficulties by performing the Swan Lake for the victory 91.7333, beating the Americans Bill May and Kristina Lum-Underwood, winners in the technical, by 0.2666 points.

Germany won the mixed 5km open water team event, by finishing first in 55 minutes 14.0.4 seconds. Brazil and the Netherlands came to second and third, respectively. China, consisted by Zu Lijun, Qiao Zhongyi and Yan Siyu, finished 14th out of 22 participating teams. Endi