Ten Steps Over Heaven

Britain’s Tom Daley claimed his first individual World Championship gold for eight years with a stratospheric victory in the 10m platform final at the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships in Duna Aréna in Budapest, Hungary on Saturday, July 22, 2017. China’s Olympic Champion 陳艾森 (Chén Àisēn) did very well, but just a bit less than Daley, who truly performed to perfection. “I saw 陳艾森 (Chén Àisēn) do his dive and all the Chinese divers cheer, so I thought ‘Watch this one. You do that, I’m going to do it better’”, Daley eventually said.

Tom Daley won gold in Budapest. Photo: AFP.

Words on Water

Here is the podium of the women’s 3m springboard final at the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Friday, July 21, 2017, with 施廷懋 (Shī Tíngmào) from China (gold) at centre, 王涵 (Wáng Hán) from China (silver) on left, and Jennifer Abel from Canada (bronze) on right. Photo: sports.qq.com.

According to 吴敏霞 (Wú Mǐnxiá), the holy voice of CCTV-5, 施廷懋 (Shī Tíngmào) won mainly thanks to her experience as, from an absolute viewpoint, her gift and skills are not necessarily superior to those of 王涵 (Wáng Hán), but overall, her performance turned out to be more accurate in detail and execution. Screengrab courtesy of CCTV-5.

Jumping Over Water

Olympic Women’s Champion 施廷懋 (Shī Tíngmào) earned China’s eighth diving gold (on the eleven available so far), neatly winning the women's 3m springboard final just ahead of her team-mate 王涵 (Wáng Hán) at the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships in Duna Aréna in Budapest, Hungary on Friday, July 21, 2017.

施廷懋 (Shī Tíngmào) poses with her gold medal during the awarding ceremony for the women’s 3m springboard final at the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, on July 21, 2017. Photo © AFP.

The Apple Tree

A member of the Russia team competes in the women’s free routine synchronised swimming final at the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Photo: Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images.

He Was A Secret... But Not Anymore

谢思埸 (Xiè Sīyì), 21, breaks out in tears of joy after winning gold in the men’s 3m springboard final at the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships in Duna Aréna in Budapest, Hungary on Thursday, July 21, 2017. He was once specialised in 10m platform, but due to a serious injury in 2012, he finally turned to springboard. Photo: sports.sina.com.cn.

And the holy voice of CCTV-5, the only & one Olympic Goddess 吴敏霞 (Wú Mǐnxiá), had nothing but words of praise for 谢思埸 (Xiè Sīyì)’s astonishing performance, showing only a bit of surprise at the tears of her fellow country boy, who she described as usually shy and introvert, tending to keep his emotions deeply hidden in his own heart, regardless of whether he wins or loses. So far. Not anymore. Screengrab courtesy of CCTV-5.

Finding Princess Yuna

There is just no good news for Italy as Elena Bertocchi did not pass even the preliminary of women’s 3m springboard World Championship in Duna Aréna in Budapest, which semifinal was dominated by 施廷懋 (Shī Tíngmào) and 王涵 (Wáng Hán) in a magic day for China, which celebrates 谢思埸 (Xiè Sīyì)’s triumphal win in the men’s 3m springboard final. Winnie-the-Pooh didn’t find the courage to make this day even more memorable (at least for me), but don’t be too severe with him: Disney simply didn’t give him his permission to be more intelligent than what he is. I’m sorry, I can say anything else.

施廷懋 (Shī Tíngmào)
Photo: sports.sina.com.cn

谢思埸 (Xiè Sīyì)
Photo: sports.sina.com.cn

Moon Day

Today starts the women’s 3m springboard individual preliminary round followed by the semifinal, while the final will be held tomorrow – as usual in Duna Aréna in Budapest, Hungary – starting at 18,30. Elena Bertocchi will participate for Italy, while China will be represented by 施廷懋 (Shī Tíngmào) and... What? Oh, surely there must be a typo in the start list! Something tells me that Winnie-the-Pooh will be prompt in correcting the obvious mistake. We all have an unshakeable faith in cartoons.

艾未未 (Ài Wèiwèi) and Ólafur Elíasson, Moon
Image courtesy of dasfilter.com

Holy Word

So the diving show must go on even without the only & one Olympic Goddess 吴敏霞 (Wú Mǐnxiá), who, relegated by age stereotypes to the limb of televised sports entertainment, can no longer save the world with her ups and downs through the blue vaults of heaven, but must tell her audience why mortals may dream of being immortals. And she very diligently argued and commented on every jump of her fellow country girls (and not only). Tiny details such as 司雅杰 (Sī Yǎjié)’s splashes into the water, 任茜 (Rèn Qiàn)’s wild inconstancy, and Jun Hoong Cheong’s harmonious balance. The Goddess has no doubts: the Malaysian girl dived beautifully and won deservedly. Photo: sports.qq.com.

ABC (Air Batu Campur)

With a shining performance, Jun Hoong Cheong of Malaysia won gold in women’s 10m platform final at the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships in Duna Aréna in Budapest, Hungary on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, while 司雅杰 (Sī Yǎjié) and 任茜 (Rèn Qiàn) – both from China – had to be content with the silver and bronze medals respectively. Photo: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Europe.

Watercolour Masterpiece

Aristophanes and the Cloak of Comedy

As maybe you know, I spent last Saturday in a wild place among the Chianti hills, with no cell phone signal, but of course, in the following days, I didn’t forget to say that Elena Bertocchi of Italy won bronze in women’s 1m springboard final at the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships in Duna Aréna in Budapest, Hungary on Saturday, July 15, 2017. I just waited for a day when Italy needed good news!

Elena Bertocchi diving for bronze in women’s 1m springboard final at the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships. Photo: Reuters.

Lili & Lali

Meanwhile, in Budapest, with no gold medal to show for it (but just because she’s not competing!), the only & one Diving Queen 吴敏霞 (Wú Mǐnxiá) was given the honour of being pictured together with Lili & Lali, the two official mascots of 17th Fina World Aquatics Championships. Photo: weibo.com/wuminxia.

Miss Lonelyhearts’s Curtain Lectures

Budapest, Hungary: The North Korean team practise at the 17th Fina World Aquatics Championships. Photo: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters.

Thinking Without Words

The Waves

施廷懋 (Shī Tíngmào) & 昌雅妮 (Chāng Yǎnī) diving for gold in women’s 3m springboard synchro final at the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships in Duna Aréna in Budapest, Hungary on Monday, July 16, 2017. “Thank you all! With a special applause for 昌雅妮 (Chāng Yǎnī)!”, writes 施廷懋 (Shī Tíngmào) on her 新浪微博 (Wēibó) account. Photo: @Mao-Mao--.

Come Sundown

China’s 施廷懋 (Shī Tíngmào) & 昌雅妮 (Chāng Yǎnī) pose with their gold medal for the women’s 3m springboard synchro final at the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships in Duna Aréna in Budapest, Hungary on Monday, July 16, 2017. Photo: AFP/Ferenc Isza.

The Way of What If

• Associated Press, China dominates diving finals at worlds, Daily Mail, July 16, 2017

任茜 (Rèn Qiàn) and 司雅杰 (Sī Yǎjié) of China diving for gold in women’s 10m synchro platform final at the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships in Duna Aréna in Budapest, Hungary, on Sunday, July 16, 2017. Photo: Zoltán Máthé/MTI via AP.

何超 (Hé Chāo) of China diving for gold in the men’s 1m springboard final at the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships in Duna Aréna in Budapest, Hungary, on Sunday, July 16, 2017. Photo: Tibor Illyés/MTI via AP.

Giovanni Tocci of Italy diving for bronze in the men’s 1m springboard final at the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships in Duna Aréna in Budapest, Hungary, on Sunday, July 16, 2017. Photo: Zoltán Máthé/MTI via AP.

Goddess is in the Air

But a good news came in waves as Olympic Goddess 吴敏霞 (Wú Mǐnxiá) was finally engaged by 中国中央电视台体育频道 (CCTV-5) to commentate the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships underway in Budapest, Hungary. Photos: sports.qq.com.

Blue Zipper

Nikita Dmitrievich Shleikher of Russia hits the water after his dive in the 1m springboard men’s preliminary round at the 17th Fina World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Photo: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters.

And the countdown has really started!

17th FINA World Aquatics Championships
Budapest, Hungary 14–30 July 2017

吴敏霞 (Wú Mǐnxiá)
Photo: mingrenw.cn