Wilkinson hooks gold

Texas sophomore wins first Goodwill diving gold for the U.S.

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Posted: Monday July 27, 1998 01:42 AM

Wilkinson was in second place going into the last round, but she scored 67.20 points with a back 2 1/2 somersault with 2 1/2 twists to win

UNIONDALE, New York (AP) - The first U.S. diving gold medal at the Goodwill Games came from an unlikely source.

Laura Wilkinson of Houston, fifth in the platform at this year's World Championships, defeated three women who beat her in that event Sunday, edging Cai Yuyan of China by just 2.64 points.

If Wilkinson's surprise gold showed the future of diving, then the present had a strong day, too.

Wilkinson was in second place going into the last round, but she scored 67.20 points with a back 2 1/2 somersault with 2 1/2 twists, while Cai had 61.20 with a forward 3 1/2 from a pike position.

"I was trying not to think about it," Wilkinson said of the pressure of trying to take No. 1 on the last attempt. "I just wanted to hit my dive."

Wilkinson, a 20-year-old Texas sophomore, trailed Cai, Olena Zhupina of Ukraine and Chantelle Michell of Australia in the World Championships in Perth, Australia. On Sunday, Cai was second, Zhupina fourth and Michell 10th.

Wilkinson had 504.21 points and Cai 501.57. Sang Xue of China won the bronze with 483.45. Zhupina's total was 482.44.

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Wilkinson's final dive earns her the gold   • Start(1.28 M .MOV) Click here for the latest audio and video
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