Australia’s Cassiel Rousseau won the men’s 10m platform on Saturday (22 July) to deny the People’s Republic of China a sweep of diving gold medals at the World Aquatics Championships 2023.

The diving competition drew to a close in dramatic fashion in Fukuoka as Rousseau (520.85) stunned the Chinese duo of Lian Junjie (512.35) and Yang Hao (504.00) to capture his first global medal.

Rousseau took the lead after his fifth dive when Lian underwhelmed with an effort which scored just 70.20.

All three contenders saved their most difficult dive, the forward four-and-a-half somersault in tuck position, for last.

And Rousseau made no mistake as he scored 98.05 – the same mark as Lian – to stay in front and take gold.

The 22-year-old – who was fifth in the men’s synchro 10m platform and helped Australia to fourth in the mixed team event – admitted to being surprised by the outcome despite feeling confident beforehand.

He said, “Coming straight off the final I can’t remember it as such, but I do know that most of my dives were very good.

“It was actually amazing. Before my final dive I could just hear everyone screaming. I think that was because I was beating the Chinese and obviously beating the Chinese is to do something incredible. So everyone just came together as a whole – all the teams, all the countries.

“They just wanted me to win. That was the spectacular part about winning as well. I’m always confident but not in a cocky way. But I didn’t expect to come first. It was surprising.”

China had moved to within one gold of the sweep earlier on Saturday when Zhu Zifeng and Lin Shan won the mixed synchronised 3m springboard.

China swept all 13 golds at last year’s Worlds in Budapest, just the third time a team topped the podium in every diving event.