Ilya Zakharov: The man who broke the Chinese wall

Dubai: As the man who broke Chinese domination in diving at the London Olympics last year, Ilya Zakharov comes across as someone who is out to prove that his effort was no flash in the pan. The Russian is in Dubai to take part in the Fina/Midea Diving World Series which takes place at the Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Sports Complex from Thursday to Saturday and the 3m springboard Olympic gold medalist tells XPRESS why he thinks he can beat the Chinese at their own game again.

“It was after the World Championship in Shanghai in 2011 that I understood it was possible to beat the Chinese,” the 21-year-old said.

“I began to work harder aiming for the London Olympics gold and I did it. I was not surprised when I won gold. It was satisfaction since I had prepared so hard for it.”

Zakharov also revealed how he went about outsmarting the Chinese. “I trained specially for the Olympics with complicated routines which I prepared to execute to perfection since they had more risk associated with them in terms of losing points. I knew the Chinese would be perfect in whatever they executed, so I trained to be perfect in the complicated dives which I employed more in the final round in London,” he said.

But despite his gold medal and American David Boudia’s gold in the 10m platform, the Chinese dominated all other events at the London Olympics. So what makes the Asia so good?

“They have a huge population and thousands of talented divers. It’s a traditional sport, so all of the kids start early. The competition amongst themselves is so fierce, so when the team for such big events are chosen, they arrive with the best of the best,” he said.

Zakharov has been to Dubai last year and he is more than pleased to return. “I am really impressed with this city and with the diving facilities. Fact is it’s freezing back in Russia, so the warm weather is really welcome,” the Leningrad resident said.

So, what’s next for the reigning Fina Male Diver of the Year?

“The World Championship gold is my next big target. And of course I would want to do well in Dubai,” he said.

Fact file

Besides the 3m springboard individual gold, Zakharov also won silver in the 3m synchro in London with Evgeny Kuznetsov

He also won double silver at the 2011 world championships in Shanghai in the 3m individual and 3m synchro spring boards

At the first Fina/Midea Diving World Series event in Beijing earlier this year, he won bronze in the 3m individual and silver in 3m synchro