by sportswriters Yue Chenxing and Xia Liang

SINGAPORE, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- China wrapped up the diving competition at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore with nine gold, three silver and four bronze medals, reaffirming its dominance despite the absence of several Paris Olympic champions. 

The squad, blending veterans with emerging talents, was named Best Diving Team of the championships.

Veterans Chen Yuxi, Chen Yiwen and Wang Zongyuan delivered steady performances, while newcomers Chen Jia and Xie Peiling impressed on their World Championships debuts. Rising challenges from Mexico, Australia and the DPR Korea, however, point to intensifying competition ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

China, which swept all eight Olympic diving titles in Paris last year, claimed six golds in the same disciplines in Singapore. These included victories in both the individual and synchronized 3-meter springboard and 10-meter platform events for women, as well as men's synchronized 3m and 10m.

Chen Yuxi secured her fourth world title in the women's 10m platform, while Chen Yiwen collected her third in the women's 3m springboard. New pairings such as Wang Zongyuan/Zheng Jiuyuan, Chen Yuxi/Zhang Minjie and Chen Yiwen/Chen Jia performed strongly, offering promise for the new Olympic cycle.

"There's no shortcut to developing synchronicity - it's all about building it day by day," said Chen Yuxi. "I don't want to look too far ahead, just take it one step at a time and start from scratch."

Mexico's Osmar Olvera Ibarra ended China's decade-long reign in the men's 3m springboard, becoming the first non-Chinese winner since Canada's Alexandre Despatie in 2005. Olvera, 21, claimed one gold and three silvers across four events. Under Chinese coach Ma Jin, Mexico posted podium finishes in the mixed team, women's synchronized 10m platform and women's synchronized 3m springboard, where 14-year-old twin sisters Cueva Lovato took bronze.

"This was one of the strongest competitions I've seen in years," said Ma. "We aim to challenge the Chinese Dream Team, especially Olvera, who always push himself to the best. Hopefully we finish next Olympic with gold medal."

In the final event, Australia's Cassiel Rousseau reclaimed the men's 10m platform crown after his 2023 triumph in Fukuoka. China's Zhu Zifeng and Zhao Renjie placed fourth and fifth, marking the country's first absence from the podium in the event since 1986.

Neutral athletes Ruslan Ternovoi and Nikita Shleikher missed gold in the men's 10m synchronized platform by just 0.93 points. Other notable performances came from Australia's Maddison Keeney, DPR Korea's Kim Mi Hwa/Jo Jin Mi, Italy's Chiara Pellacani and Japan's Rikuto Tamai.

"Strong rivals only make us better," said Wang Zongyuan. "With such a strong slate of competitors, we'll spur one another on and push one another to grow and get better."

With veteran leaders anchoring the lineup, China's next generation - the "post-00s" and "post-10s" - is gaining valuable experience. For Chen Jia, who claimed one gold and one silver in her debut, the legacy is clear: "You can really feel the pressure standing on the board - and the legacy behind us. We're here to carry it forward."   ■