Olympic Diver SAUTIN (RUS) Checks Off 27-Year Dream at the Opening Ceremony of the 7th CWG

WUHAN (CHN) - Eight-time Olympic medalist Dimitry SAUTIN (RUS) can count himself as one of the leading divers in the history of the Olympic Games, but there was one thing missing from his accolades until the Opening Ceremony of the 7th CISM Military World Games (7th CWG) on Friday.

It was the first time in almost 30 years at the highest level of his sport that SAUTIN was able to attend an Opening Ceremony. When he finally did, not only did he march in the athletes' parade, but he carried his nation's flag as well.

"I always missed out on the parade, and here it seems that fate intervened," said SAUTIN, who is at the 7th CWG as the head coach and team captain of the Russian diving team.

The 45-year-old competed in five Olympic Games, spanning from Barcelona 1992 to Beijing 2008, winning two gold medals in the men's 10m platform events as well as medals in the men's 3m springboard. He missed the athletes' parade in each of his Olympic experiences, but at the 7th CWG the athletes and staff of the Russian national team voted for him to carry the flag - an honor that is traditionally reserved for the most promising athletes on the team and almost never given to a coach.

“I was always diving, and I think they were probably always saving me for the competition because the ceremonies are quite heavy, physically,” SAUTIN said.

SAUTIN also declared that there is a huge pressure on the Russian divers shoulders to earn medals at the 7th CWG.
“We are facing a challenge because the Games are taking place in China, first of all, and secondly, because the Chinese are very strong," the Russian flagbearer said. “Almost all the national team members are here. The best that we have.”

Despite the skill set of the Russian divers, the team is at a disadvantage in Wuhan. One of the country's star performers, the London 2012 Olympic gold medalist in the men's 3m springboard Ilya ZAKHAROV, recently underwent surgery and was ruled out of competition.

The Russians are also short on divers to make the team event. While China has seven male and seven female divers, the Russians only have four men and three women entered in the diving competition.
But SAUTIN, who is no stranger to challenges, having recovered from a knife wound to the stomach one year before he won a medal at his first Olympic Games, has complete confidence that his athletes will put achieve good performances when the diving competition begins on October 24.

“All the athletes who came here to defend the Russian Federation had good training meets. We are in a good mood," SAUTIN said. "We are all ready. Nobody came here just to be here."

(Source: SUMOC Executive Committee - Editor YANG Si)