Diving World Cup starts in Rio de Janeiro

On a perfect summer day in Rio de Janeiro divers from all around the world gathered at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre for the 20th FINA diving World Cup.

With plenty to look forward to over the next five days here in the aquatic centre, there was a discernible level of excitement amongst divers as things got started Friday.

The first final of the day would see current world champions Lui Huixia and her partner Chen Ruolin start as obvious favorites in the women's synchronised 10m platform final.

With temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius, the Chinese pair did not wilt and true to form took first place with a brilliant display of diving. They ran out comfortable winners with a score of 344.04 finishing ahead of the Malaysian pair who scored 318.90 and Britain in third with 308.82.

The second chance to win a medal today would come in the men's synchronised 3m springboard final.

Chinese pair Cao and Qin had qualified in first earlier in the day and went into the final looking to take gold. Unfortunately it was not to be and the German pair of Stephan Feck and Patrick Hausding came into form at the right time and pushed the Chinese pair down into second place.

Tomorrow will see the women's 3m Synchro Final, prelims for the women's 10m and finally the men's 10m Synchro. Where Great Britain's Tom Daly and Dan Goodfellow will look to qualify for the Olympic final the real goal for all these divers later this year. Endit