Platform, Men

The favorite was Russian diver Dmitry Sautin, the 1994 World Champion. By the time of this event China had won all three of the gold medals in Atlanta, and was looking for a sweep. Sautin had been favored to win both events in Atlanta, but had performed below expectations on the springboard, placing fifth. Sautin led after the qualifying and semi-finals, and kept increasing his lead, eventually winning gold by almost 30 points over German Jan Hempel. The bronze medal went to China’s unheralded Xiao Hailiang, preventing them being shut out in this event. Sautin’s victory also meant that the United States was shut out of a gold medal for the first time at an Olympics since 1912.

This was Hempel’s third Olympics and his first medal. He would win bronze in 2000 in synchro platform. Sautin continued diving through the 2008 Olympics, winning eight Olympic medals and two golds, nine World medals, with five golds, and 18 medals and 12 golds at the European Championships. Xiao was never heard from before Atlanta, but won gold in 2000 in synchro springboard, and was second in the 2000 World Cup.