Shi started competing at the World Series in Beijing this year, where she grabbed gold with teammate Minxia Wu in the 3m springboard synchro. This first piece of international silverware is indicative of what the 2011 World champion in the 1m springboard is capable of in the 3m springboard individually.
The women's 3m springboard podium - credit: Still Sports
The battle for bronze played out between Pamela Ware (CAN), Olena Fedorova (UKR) and local hope Hannah Starling. Performing steadily till the end, the Ukrainian was the strongest with an overall 340.20 points, edging out Starling and Ware for fourth and fifth, respectively. This is the second bronze for Fedorova this season after the one garnered in Dubai.
She was delighted with the result, saying: "I'm very excited about my performance and results. When I was entering the last round, I thought about my medal in Dubai and told myself that I could do it again."
Laura Sanchez (MEX), Olympic bronze medallist, did not make it to the final.
Illya Kvasha from Ukraine had an outstanding final in the men's 3m springboard, leading from the very first round to the last, totalling 516.45 points. It was arguably his second dive, a clean Forward 4.5 Somersault, Tucked (3.8 DD) that earned him 93.10 points, his highest score achieved in his career, that sealed his victory.
With already a gold from Dubai, Kvasha could not be happier: "This gold is really important for me, I beat Chong He for the second time and achieved my highest score in my entire diving career."
"The World Series is a great competition, the way it is organised, we feel like stars and our sport is in the spotlight too," he added with a smile.
The pressure was on China's Chong He to chase Kvasha and while the Chinese remained consistent throughout the final, earning scores in the 80s and 90s, when his fourth dive, an Inward 3.5 Somersault, Tucked, received a "poor" 66.30, his hopes for a gold medal definitively faded away. The 2012 Olympic bronze medallist and World Series winner took second with a total 504.55.
Men's 3m springboard podium - credit: Still Sports
Germany's Patrick Hausding achieved his best result this season, claiming the bronze with an overall 476.10 points. Placing sixth in Beijing and fourth in Dubai, Hausding said, reflecting on his results: "I'm pretty happy with my performance today. It was my third and last World Series meet this year so I'm satisfied with the bronze."
"The level is always really high at World Series, it's great to compete and stand up against them," Hausding added.
He's teammate Kai Qin, Olympic silver medallist and winner of the event in Beijing, finished at the podium's door.