Cuban Frank Abel Rosales set today at 501.25 points the national record of the category in the specialty of springboard from one meter, a performance that guaranteed him a place in the final corresponding to the World Junior Diving Championships in Rio de Janeiro 2024, in Brazil.
“The goal was to get to the final and I got it, now I want a medal”, the Matanzas native told JIT moments after finishing the best competition of his life, awarded with scores ranging between seven and 7.5 units, he even received several eight and 8.5.
As established in the rules of the competitions for under 19 years of age, the program includes 10 jumps, five of them compulsory -whose scores are “carried over” to the final stage- and an equal number of free jumps.
In the definitive phase, each diver performs another series of free jumps, and their scores will be added to those accumulated in the preliminary phase to define the order and distribution of medals.
A “brilliant competition”, described the moment the national commissioner of the sport, Milagros González, happy along with coach Daylet Valdés for what was seen in the Julio Delamare Aquatic Park.
“It could have even been better, but she failed a little in the dive of two half turns to the front with a twist. We are going to work to make him do well in the final,” commented the board, satisfied with the exhibition of the talented youngster, who finished #fourth# in the three-meter springboard competition.
Frank Abel faces his second participation in championships of this type but with a very different performance from that shown in the Montreal 2022 edition that marked his debut.
The Matanzas native faced some difficulties in the preparation process but has managed to overcome them thanks to his quality, which offers good signs for future commitments, such as the Junior Pan American Games of Asuncion 2025.
In addition to China’s Yan, champion in the three-meter springboard, other medal contenders in that event will be in the final, including his Norwegian teammate Isak Borslien, Colombia’s Miguel Tovar, Canada’s Emmitt Reesor, and the United States’ Luke Sitz.
Malaysia’s Nurqayyum Bim Mohamad, bronze medalist in the other springboard event, failed to make the top 12.
