Lin Shan/Yang Shan claims China first gold in mixed team event in Gwangju

China continued their winning streak at the diving competions of Gwangju FINA World Championships on Tuesday in Gwangju as Lin Shan and Yang Jian claimed the mixed team event.

China’s gold medalists Yang Jian and Lin Shan pose during the medal ceremony for the mixed team event final on day five of the Gwangju 2019 FINA World Championships at Nambu International Aquatics Centre on July 16, 2019 in Gwangju, South Korea. [Photo: VCG/Getty Images/Maddie Meyer]

It was the first time Chinese divers tabbed their names on the record book since the mixed team event was introduced into the worlds in Kazan 2015.

British star Tom Daley/Rebecca Gallantree and French pair Laura Marino/Matthieu Rosset were the winners of the event in two previous worlds. The best results the Chinese diver did was a third placing in 2015 by Chen Ruolin and Xie Siyi.

A total of 14 pairs competed in the mixed team final in Gwangju as one male and one female diver each take three attempts. Among six dives, three have to come from the 3m springboard, and the other three must be done on the 10m platform.

Lin, three-time Youth Olympic champion, and Yang, men's 10m platform bronze medalist in Budapest two years ago, never met strong challenges by leading all the way to the championship in 416.65 points.

China's Lin Shan competes in the mixed team event diving final at the World Swimming Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, Tuesday, July 16, 2019. [Photo: IC]

"No matter Youth Olympic golds or world champion, all my glory are my honor. I used to be scared of competition but not anymore. I tried to adjust my breath and told myself to relax when felt nervous. It was my first world championship gold and also first for China, I was proud of that," said Lin who will turn 18 next month.

China's Yang Jian competes in the mixed team event diving final at the World Swimming Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, Tuesday, July 16, 2019. [Photo: IC]

Russian pair Iuliia Timoshinina/Sergey Nazin stayed in the second position by 390.05, followed by Andrew Capobianco/Katrina Young of the United States at 357.60. Leong Mun Yee/Chew Yiwei of Malaysia were 9.8 points behind for the fourth place.

China so far has swept all the 8 gold medals on offer in the diving competition at the worlds.