Ilya Zakharov

Ilya Zakharov

Personal information
Full name	Ilya Leonidovich Zakharov
Nationality	Russian
Born	2 May 1991 Leningrad, Russia
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	70 kg (150 lb)
Sport
Country	Russia
Sport	Diving
Event(s)	3 m, 3 m synchro
Medal record Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 1 1 – World Championships – 5 – European Championships 4 4 1 Olympic Games 2012 London 3m Springboard 2012 London 3m Spring Synchro World Championships 2011 Shanghai 3m Springboard 2011 Shanghai 3m Spring Synchro 2013 Barcelona 3m Spring Synchro 2015 Kazan 3 m springboard 2015 Kazan 3 m synchro European Championships 2011 Turin 3m Spring Synchro 2011 Turin Team 2012 Debrecen 3m Spring Synchro 2013 Rostock 3 m Springboard 2013 Rostock 3m Spring Synchro 2014 Berlin 3 m synchro 2015 Rostock 3 m spring synchro 2010 Budapest 3m Springboard 2010 Budapest 10m Synchro 2011 Turin 3m Spring 2012 Debrecen 10m Synchro 2016 London 3 m springboard synchro 2011 Turin 10m Synchro 2012 Debrecen 3m Springboard 2015 Rostock 3m Springboard Summer Universiade 2013 Kazan 3m Spring Synchro 2011 Shenzhen 10m Spring Synchro 2011 Shenzhen 3m Springboard

Ilya Leonidovich Zakharov (Russian: Илья Леонидович Захаров; born 2 May 1991) is a Russian diver. He is the 2012 Olympics gold medalist in 3 metre Springboard

Career

Evgeny Kuznetsov and Ilya Zakharov at the 2016 Olympics

Junior

In 2007, Zakharov debuted in international tournament in diving at the Lambertz-Printenspringen in Germany where he won gold in 10m Springboard, a pair of silver medal with Evgeny Kuznetsov 3m Springboard Synchro and a bronze in 3m springboard.

In 2008, Zakharov won gold in 10m Springboard at the Cup of Russia. He scored 456.70 points ahead of compatriot Victor Minibaev who scored 449.25. At the 2008 European Junior Championships in Minsk, Belarus, he won two gold medals (1m Springboard and 10m Platform) and a pair of silver medal with Igor Koryakin in 3m Synchro Springboard. At the 2008 Junior World Championship, he won a pair of bronze medal with Igor Koryakin in 3m Synchro Springboard and silver medal in individual behind Chinese diver Wang Jihan.

Senior

In 2009, at the fourth stage of the Grand Prix in Montreal, Canada, Zakharov and Kuznetsov won the silver medal in 3m synchro springboard and in Budapest, Hungary at the European Youth Championships He won three gold medals, in individual events ( 3m Springboard and 10m Platform) as well as in 3m synchro springboard with Victor Minibaev.

In 2010, at the Rostov-on-Don Grand Prix in diving, Zakharov and Minibaev won the bronze medal and in Montreal, Canada at the Grand Prix in diving athlete paired with Evgeny Kuznetsov won the bronze medal in synchronized diving three-meter springboard. At the World Cup in Guangzhou, China, Zakharov and Minbaev won silver in synchronized diving behind Chinese divers Cao Yuan and Zhang Yanquan.

In 2011, at the World Championships, Zakharov won the silver medal in 3m Springboard and a pair of silver medal with Kuznetsov in 3m Spring Synchro.

In 2012, ^[1] he won the Olympic Gold medal in the Men's 3 metre springboard defeating Chinese divers Qin Kai and He Chong. He also won the silver medal in the Men's synchronized 3 metre springboard and competed in the Men's synchronized 10 metre platform.^[2] Zakharov was awarded the FINA Male Diver of the Year of 2012.

In 2013, Zakharov won gold medal at the 2013 European Championships in 3 m Springboard and 3m Spring Synchro.

In 2016, Zakharov attempted to defend his Olympic gold medal in the Men's 3 metre springboard, but did not advance past the semifinal round after a failed dive that resulted in a score of zero.^[3]

References

1. "Ilya Zakharov". London 2012. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Limited. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
2. BBC Sport Profile
3. "Olympic Flops: Rio's Worst Dives". NBCUniversal Media. August 16, 2016.