World championships overshadowed by transgender pool rule

BUDAPEST: The two-week World Aquatic Championships ended with China making its biggest splash in diving, but the lasting ripples will spread from a decision on transgender athletes announced on the opening weekend.

When Yang Jian fought back from an early deficit to win the men's 10m platform gold on Sunday (Jul 3) night, he completed a Chinese sweep of the 13 diving events.

"It's pressure," said Yang after his win. "But I made it. I withstood the pressure."

That's one better than in 2019, when China did not enter the mixed synchronised 3m springboard, a non-Olympic event, but won the other 12 golds. This time Lin Shan and Zhu Zifeng won the mixed.

In the 2011 World Championships, before mixed events, China won all 10 diving events. They have never completed an Olympic sweep, winning seven of eight golds in 2016, and 2021.

The competition ended late Sunday with substitute goalkeeper Eduardo Lorrio saving from Giacomo Cannella as Spain beat Italy 6-5 after the men's water polo final ended 9-9.

It was Spain's first gold of the competition, for Italy it was a 22nd medal.

They took third in the overall medal table from the banned Russians.

The United Sates regained undisputed first place from China.

In 2019, the Americans won 36 total medals, 15 of them gold, while China collected six fewer total medals but one more gold.

This time the two countries tied with 18 golds, but the US, who won 17 golds in swimming and one in women's water polo, won 49 altogether, 21 more than the Chinese, who also topped the artistic swimming with four golds and won one in swimming.

Ukraine increased their haul to 10 medals led by their women's artistic swimming teams, who won two golds.

Governing body FINA calculated on Sunday that more than 2,000 athletes