Local Olympic diving silver medallists Ivan Garcia and Germán Sanchez struck gold last weekend at the first of two consecutive Guadalajara meets in the Fina World Diving Series.

The sixth and final event of the series takes place this weekend (Friday, May 24 through Sunday, May 26), also at the city’s Scotiabank Aquatics Center. (It was originally scheduled for Mexico City but switched to Guadalajara after the capital backed out.)

Mexico’s finished with a final haul of three gold, two silvers and one bronze from the fifth event of the international series that is reserved for the best divers in the world. Guadalajara’s Garcia and Sanchez won gold in the 10-meter synchronized event and picked up silver and and bronze respectively in the individual category.

Diving powerhouse China claimed the remaining five titles at stake, walking away with nine medals (five gold, three silver and one bronze). Other countries to climb the podium were Canada, Cuba, Great Britain, Malaysia and Russia.
Although the international event was poorly publicized, a  reasonable crowd turned out to watch the most talented divers in the world.

Better attendances are expected this weekend for the sixth series, especially since popular Mexican Olympic medallist Paola Espinosa will be participating.

Six sessions will be held, two on each of the three days.  Semi-final sessions take place at noon and finals at 6 p.m. They last for about two hours. Medals are handed out at the end of the evening sessions, around 8 p.m.

Tickets cost from 50 to 150 pesos and are on sale at the ticket booth at the Aquatics Center.   They can be purchased ahead of time or prior to each session.  For more information visit www.fina.org or call the Federacion Mexicana de Natacion at 01 (55) 5395-7459.

The Centro Acuatico Scotiabank is located on the western edge of the Parque Metropolitano, at the junction of Economos and Mision San Lorenzo, two blocks from the Periferico (city beltway). From the Periferico take the Avenida Guadalupe exit.