BEIJING -- David Boudia and Thomas Finchum couldn't deliver the United States' first Olympic diving medal since 2000, finishing fifth today in the synchronized 10-meter event at the Water Cube.
Boudia, Noblesville, and Finchum, Indianapolis, won the Americans' only diving medal at the 2007 World Championships and had one streak of 10 consecutive international meets in which they won medals.
They were less than five points from a bronze medal.
As expected, China's Lin Yue and Huo Liang won the gold, scoring 468.18 points.
Germany's Patrick Hausding and Sascha Klein were second, 450.42, and Russia's Gleb Galperin and Dmitriy Dobroskok third, 445.26. Australia was fourth at 444.84.
The Hoosiers scored 440.63. They were in third place through four of the six rounds but dropped to fifth after their fifth dive.
No U.S. diver has won a medal at the Olympic Games since Laura Wilkinson's gold on platform at Sydney in 2000. No U.S. male diver has won a medal since Indiana University graduate Mark Lenzi took a bronze at Atlanta in 1996.
It could be a banner night in the pool for U.S. world-record holders. Michael Phelps is a favorite in the 200m free, while Aaron Peirsol and Natalie Coughlin look to better the world records they set in the men's and women's 100m backstroke at the U.S. Trials. On land, the U.S. expects to challenge the world-champion host nation in the team final in men's gymnastics. On sand, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh defend their 2004 gold medal in women's beach volleyball. "Everybody's better — we don't take any team for granted," says May-Treanor. Finally, the synchronized platform final may be the top U.S. chance for a diving medal, with David Boudia and Thomas Finchum trying to disrupt China's dominance in the sport. "You try and look at it like you're right behind the Chinese, and if you hit your dives, you can beat them," says Boudia.
Boudia, Noblesville, and Finchum, Indianapolis, won the Americans' only diving medal at the 2007 World Championships and had one streak of 10 consecutive international meets in which they won medals.
They were less than five points from a bronze medal.
As expected, China's Lin Yue and Huo Liang won the gold, scoring 468.18 points.
Germany's Patrick Hausding and Sascha Klein were second, 450.42, and Russia's Gleb Galperin and Dmitriy Dobroskok third, 445.26. Australia was fourth at 444.84.
The Hoosiers scored 440.63. They were in third place through four of the six rounds but dropped to fifth after their fifth dive.
No U.S. diver has won a medal at the Olympic Games since Laura Wilkinson's gold on platform at Sydney in 2000. No U.S. male diver has won a medal since Indiana University graduate Mark Lenzi took a bronze at Atlanta in 1996.
It could be a banner night in the pool for U.S. world-record holders. Michael Phelps is a favorite in the 200m free, while Aaron Peirsol and Natalie Coughlin look to better the world records they set in the men's and women's 100m backstroke at the U.S. Trials. On land, the U.S. expects to challenge the world-champion host nation in the team final in men's gymnastics. On sand, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh defend their 2004 gold medal in women's beach volleyball. "Everybody's better — we don't take any team for granted," says May-Treanor. Finally, the synchronized platform final may be the top U.S. chance for a diving medal, with David Boudia and Thomas Finchum trying to disrupt China's dominance in the sport. "You try and look at it like you're right behind the Chinese, and if you hit your dives, you can beat them," says Boudia.
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