SPLASH

In the summer of 2012, Ilya Zakharov at the Summer Games in London became the first ever Russian Olympic champion in individual three-meter springboard diving.

In the last time in this discipline, Alexander Portnov, who was then representing the USSR national team, at the XXII Olympic Games in Moscow, rose to the highest step of the podium, it was 32 years ago.

In the final of the competition, Ilya surpassed the Chinese Qin Kai and He Chong. Before the final jump, Zakharov was inferior to Qin Kai, but he perfectly completed the most difficult jump of his program and received a assessment of 104.50 for it.

Ilya came out on top, winning the gold medal.

The International Swimming Federation (FINA) recognized Ilya Zakharov as the best diver of 2012.