The 2012 Olympics diving champion scored a 0.0 while in Rio.
The Olympics tend to offer moments that you rarely, if ever, see in other sports. That was the case in the 3m springboard final, but for all the wrong reasons.
Ilya Zakharov, who won gold in diving at the 2012 London Olympics, was very bullish on his chances of getting to the final in Rio. But on his fourth attempt, he got a score that you’re only ever going to see in Animal House: a 0.0. His total score was 345.60, which was good for dead last in the field.
If you want to watch the video (h/t The Big Lead), then click right here.
Overconfidence must’ve gotten the better of him, as there’s no other way to explain an attempt that horrendous. He must’ve thought he was on the 10-meter springboard, since he slammed into the water in the middle of a flip.
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Ever since the McLaren report surfaced implicating the Russian Olympic team in a doping scandal, most of the world has wanted them to fail at the Rio Olympics. They got their wish in this diving event, but even so, you can’t help but feel bad for the guy.
Diving is really one of the more unheralded events in the Olympics, but there’s been no shortage of interesting storylines this year. From the green pool, Zakharov’s attempt, and even a video of a Filipino diving team that went viral during the Games, it’s safe to say that interest in the sport has been piqued. But for long-time diving practitioners, they won’t be happy that more people are tuning into their sport to see a trainwreck rather than high level competition.