KYIV, Ukraine – Three U.S. divers advanced to the finals on day six of competition at the FINA World Junior Diving Championships. Tyler Downs (Ballwin, Mo.) and Manuel Borowski (McLean, Va.) finished sixth and seventh, respectively, in the boys’ group B 3-meter final, while Johanna Holloway (Boynton Beach, Fla.) placed 10th in the girls’ group A platform final.
Downs scored 427.20 points in the 3-meter final, with Borowski finishing four points behind his teammate.
Downs scored 60 points or higher on his first three dives in the final, including 67.50 on a front 2 ½ with one twist and 63 on an inward 2 ½ pike, but closed out his list with just 43.50 points on a reverse 2 ½ pike.
Borowski opened the final with 46.20 points on a front 3 ½ tuck before following with a front 2 ½ with one twist that earned 64.50 points. He received three 8s from the judges on his final dive, a reverse 2 ½ tuck that scored 64.40 points.
China’s Long Daoyi claimed gold with 474.90 points, with teammate Yao Zelin scoring 464.60 for silver. Canada’s Cedric Fofana rounded out the medalists after finishing with 459.05 points.
Holloway finished with 367.75 points to place 10th in a platform final won by China’s Zhang Rui. Zhang topped the field with 488.70, followed by China’s Lin Shan with 453.20 and Russia’s Iana Satina at 425.90. After missing her first dive in the final with just 35.20 points on an inward 3 ½ tuck, she ended her competition with 57.75 points on an armstand triple back somersault and 62.70 points on a back 3 ½ tuck in the final two rounds.
Sophia McAfee (San Marino, Calif.) also competed in the platform event and finished 19th with 333.30 points. Her best marks came on her reverse 2 ½ tuck, which scored 54.60 points, and her back 2 ½ with 1 ½ twists, which earned 52.80 points.
The FINA World Junior Diving Championships continue through July 29. Downs competes again Saturday when he pairs with Jordan Rzepka (Solon, Ohio) in synchronized platform. Saturday’s competition also includes Hailey Hernandez (Southlake, Texas) and Daryn Wright (Plainfield, Ind.) in group B 3-meter.
