Italy's Tania Cagnotto ends China gold streak at FINA World Championships

By Pascal Lemesre, Football League Editor

Published: July 28 2015 | 13:55

Last updated: July 28 2015 | 21:01

Tania Cagnotto of Italy wins gold in the women's 1m springboard final at the FINA World Championships to end China's diving winning streak in Kazan.

China's run of diving gold medals at the 16th FINA World Championships in Kazan came to an end this afternoon as Italy's Tania Cagnotto claimed victory in the women's 1m springboard.

It is a first gold medal at the Worlds for Cagnotto, who beat the world's top two platform divers from China, Shi Tingmao and He Zi, with a score of 310.85.

Tania Cagnotto of Italy competes in the Women's 1m Springboard Diving Final on day four of the 16th FINA World Championships at the Aquatics Palace on July 28, 2015 © Getty Images

Cagnotto qualified with the second-best score, but led from the front in the final to end her 14-year wait for a World Championships gold.

Heading into the final round, Cagnotto, 30, led by over 10 points, but her lead was cut to 1.65 by the end as Shi, the last diver, threatened to snatch the gold. Compatriot He took the bronze.

Australia's Maddison Keeney had a chance of sneaking into the medal places in the final round because of her degree of difficulty, but a no-score on her last dive saw her plummet to last place.