Qiu Bo wins second straight title at diving worlds

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) -- Qiu Bo won his second consecutive world title in the men's 10-meter platform on Sunday, giving China its ninth gold medal in 10 diving events at the world championships.

Defending champion Qiu destroyed the 12-man field with his six dives- including two near perfect efforts- to rake in 581 points.

Behind Qiu, Olympic champion David Boudia took his second straight silver and Germany's Sascha Klein repeated his bronze to complete the exact same podium from the 2011 world championships.

Boudia finished far behind Qiu with 517.40 points, but saved the United States from being shut out of the medals in the diving at the Montjuic Municipal pool overlooking Barcelona.

Klein claimed third with 508.55 to earn his second medal after his gold from the 10-meter synchronized last week with partner Patrick Hausding, the only event Chinese divers didn't dominate.

With Qiu's big win, China finished this week's diving events just one gold medal shy of a complete 10-for-10 sweep.

Boudia had led the semifinals with Qiu only managing to classify in sixth place, but the expected competition between the old rivals quickly turned into Boudia watching Qiu cruise to the title with an untouchable performance.

Qiu had four of the five best individual dives of the final, including two massive hauls of 108 and 110.70 points.

Boudia led after the first two rounds, but Qiu had closed the gap to just five points before he went ahead for good in the third.

Qiu then practically decided the title with two dives to go by nailing a backward pike with three-and-a-half somersaults that six of seven judges scored as a 10, with only one giving it a 9.5.

Boudia added his silver to the gold and bronze medals already won by American open water swimmers. The Americans' main medal hopes rest on the indoor swimming events starting also on Sunday at the Palau Sant Jordi.