LONDON — Two-time Olympian Roseline Filion won the gold medal on Sunday in the women’s 10-metre tower by the smallest margin of victory ever on the FINA world series diving circuit.
Filion totalled 379.15 points, edging China’s Huixia Liu by only 0.45 points. Tonia Couch of Britain was third at 357.80.
"Tonight I showed I am up there with the top in the world," said Filion, whose previous season-best finish was fifth place.
"I knew by the way I was diving it was going well and I would have a great result. But the victory is still unexpected. It all comes down to improving all the small details in each dive."
It was the first-career world series victory for the Laval, Que. native and the second week in a row a Canadian has won the event. Last week in Russia, Montreal’s Meaghan Benfeito took gold.
Filion grabbed the lead in the fourth round after nailing her armstand dive for 84.15 points — her best score of the night. She followed up with another solid twisting dive to maintain the lead over Liu.
It’s the first time since 2008 that China has failed to win in back-to-back world series stops on women’s tower.
"I think the Chinese are starting to feel the pressure," said Filion. "But my objective is the same, concentrate on my dives and the results will follow."
World tower champion Ruolin Chen of China was eliminated in the semifinal as was Benfeito.
Chen still leads the overall standings after four-of-six events with 56 points, followed by Couch at 54 and Liu at 53. Filion is fourth and Benfeito fifth.
On men’s 10-m tower, Britain’s Thomas Daley took gold while Vincent Riendeau of Pointe-Claire, Que., was sixth. Maxim Bouchard was eliminated in the semifinal and came 10th overall.