Diver Puhakka wins second medal at European Championships

Finnish contingent come home without any medals from the races in the pool

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Finnish diver Joona Puhakka finished in style by taking his second medal at the European Swimming Championship in Budapest, Hungary. In the 3-metre springboard event, Puhakka's 464.60 points earned him the bronze medal.
      Puhakka produced six competent performances and even the twist dive, which sometimes gives him problems, came out perfectly.
      Puhakka thus defended honourably his silver medal from two years ago, but in Friday's competition, which was held in bleak conditions, he had to acknowledge the superiority of the Russian divers Dmitri Sautin and Aleksandr Dobroskok.
      The differences between the three medallists were clear enough not to leave any room for speculation.
     
The master of the diving pool Sautin produced two dives that earned him over 90 points each, and took victory with a convincing 496.10 points. Dobroskok's 479.95 points ensured him an equally assertive silver medal.
      "I failed to produce absolutely top-class dives, but then again I did not fail dramatically in any of my efforts either. My personal best (481.92) is fifteen points better, so there is room for improvement", Puhakka commented after the event.
      Puhakka also said that he still valued the 1-metre springboard gold from the same games more than Friday's bronze medal, despite the fact that the 1-metre competition is not an Olympic event.
      "A win is always a win", he argued.
     
Puhakka can be more than content with his input over the past week, for he was the only Finn to bring home medals of any colour from the games.
      For the Finnish swim team, men and women alike, this was the worst European Championship result in 15 years. The last time Finland's swimmers failed to produce any podium finishes at the European Swimming Championships dates back to 1991.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Joona Puhakka retains one-metre springboard title at European Swimming Championships (3.8.2006)

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