FINA WJDC 2016: Russia’s Ruslan Ternovoy places third in platform final

Ruslan Ternovoy of Russia took bronze on the fifth competition day of the FINA World Junior Diving Championships in Kazan. He scored 461.35 points in the platform event.

Ruslan Ternovoy stood every chance of winning gold but he failed to execute his difficult programme without a hitch. He didn’t manage his third dive (back 3 ½ somersaults) and got only 41.25 points for it.

“I still have a chance to mend my ways tomorrow; maybe I didn’t give it 100% during training sessions or I simply burned out,” Ruslan said. “My rivals’ skill level was very high, probably the highest one in the history of junior divers. It’s possible that I simply failed to meet their challenge. I haven’t seen their performances before but I believe that I can and will perform more consistently.”

Yang Ling of China celebrated victory in the Group B Boys final. He scored 527.40. Mexico’s Willars Randal earned silver with 504.70 points.

The Chinese diver was happy with his victory. “It’s incredible – I’m the best in the world! It was tough – the competition in this event is very strong. That’s why I performed difficult dives in the preliminary round so that the judges noticed me. I’m pleased with the score but there’s still something to strive for,” Yang Ling explained.

“This gold is the result of a three-day preparation for the Kazan tournament. Tomorrow I will compete in the 3m springboard event,” he said.

Silver medallist Willars Randal admitted that he was very happy because it’s the first ever medal he won at an international competition. “Before that I won three times at the Pan-American Games and Mexican championship but it’s my first time at the tournament of such level. I want to thank all those who believed in me and supported me,” the diver commented.

Another Russian diver, Alexey Sorokin, ended up in fifth place with 434.30 points.