Aussie Cassiel Rousseau, Grandson Of A French Olympic Cycling Champ, Puts A Spoke In China’s Golden Wheel
Cassiel Rousseau, an ex-gymnast from Brisbane, Australia, whose grandfather Michel won Olympic gold in track cycling for France at the Melbourne 1956 Games, halted what looked set to be a golden sweep for China as the diving program came to a close at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, today.
China had won every world championship diving event it had entered since 2017 – until Rousseau, 22, leapt to victory in the 10m platform.
China’s Lian Junjie, 22 and with four world titles in synchro platform events in his pantheon since 2017, and his teammate, Yang Hao, 25, silver medallist in the 10m in 2019 and then bronze in 2022, completed the podium.
10m Result in full – All Diving Results In Full
With one dive to go, Rousseau led on 422.80 points, just ahead of the unheralded Kyle Kothari of Great Britain who suffered two ruptured Achilles tendons in recent years. There was no sign of such injuries in Fukuoka as Kothari trailed Rousseau by just 1.05 points Lian 8.5 points adrift the leader and Yang 13.5 points to make up on the Australian.
In the final round, Britain’s Noah Williams, in fifth, scored 99.90 on a forward 4½ to make 499.10 points. He was still in the lead after teammate Kothari fluffed his back 2½ with 2½ twists to fall out of contention.
Yang sailed past Williams before Rousseau rocketed past Yang with a 98.05 final dive, a forward four and a half somersault with tuck (109C with 3.7 DD), for a total of 520.85. Lian needed 106.55 points to keep China’s golden-sweep hopes alive – for Fukuoka and all the way back three previous championships to 2017. Taking on the same dive as Rousseau, Lian matched the Australian’s score, 98.05 points. Great but not good enough for gold.
The Chinese streak was over.
Rousseau said:
“I knew that I was going to come in first place before that final dive. I was meticulously rehearsing the details of the final dive in my head. To be honest I was not as nervous as I thought I would be. I was just excited by the realization that I actually had the possibility of taking the gold medal.
“To get a gold medal so early in my career is just incredible. If I analyze myself as a diver, I would say I am consistently very good but not consistently amazing. My standard for all my dives is to be nine and above. As you witnessed, I had dives that were not up to scratch.
“To all the people who helped me get to where I am, I love you and I thank you for this bountiful career. Especially to my grand-dad who I am sure is watching me from above.
“To get a gold medal so early in my career is just incredible. If I analyse myself as a diver, I would say I am consistently very good but not consistently amazing. My standard for all my dives is to be nine and above. As you witnessed, I had dives that were not up to scratch.”
Cassiel Rousseau. Photo: Cassiel Rousseau by Istvan Derencseny, courtesy of /World Aquatics #AQUA2023
Mixed 3m Synchro
The 10m platform was the last final of the diving programme in Fukuoka. Earlier in the day, China took its last gold, in the mixed 3m synchro event as Lin Shan, 21, and Zhu Zifeng, 20, mounted a successful defence of their 2022 title.
Australia’s Maddison Keeney and Domonic Bedggood, 28, took silver, 18.72 points behind China. It was Australia’s first diving medal this week and preceded a grand finale for the Green and Gold when Rousseau grabbed the limelight.
Italy’s triple junior world champion, 16-year-old Matteo Santoro and Chiara Pellacani, 20, came out of eighth place after their first compulsory dive to capture the bronze medal in the fifth edition of mixed 3m synchro at the world championships. Last year, the same Italian pair finished second behind Lin and Zhu.
Where The Diving Medals Went
China 19 medals (12 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze)
Mexico 6 medals (4 silver, 2 bronze)
Australia 2 medals (1 gold, 1 silver)
Canada 2 medals (2 bronze)
Italy 2 medals (2 bronze)
The following nations earned one medal apiece: Ukraine (1 silver), France (1 bronze), Japan (1 bronze), USA (1 bronze), Germany (1 bronze).