Chinese divers fall short

Australia, Russia star on final day

China did not reign supreme Sunday at the USA Diving Grand Prix in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., giving hope to the other nations preparing for the Beijing Olympics.

On the final day of competition, the Australians took two gold medals and a silver, with Russia winning the only other gold awarded.

The Chinese, who did not bring all of their top divers, were shut out of gold for the first time in the four-day event but still led the medal count with seven -- three gold, two silver and two bronze.

Australia and United States each finished with five medals overall, with the U.S. capturing four silver medals.

Matt Mitcham and Matt Helm of Australia went 1-2 in the men's 10-meter platform, and Sascha Klein of Germany grabbed the bronze medal. Mitcham received four 10s on his fourth dive.

"At the moment I'm so excited I can't even remember what dive it was. It must have been a reverse," Mitcham said. "It's my first Grand Prix gold medal so I'm very happy. Actually, I felt like I was slightly over on the dive but I must have gone in very well, and the crowd was just going absolutely bananas."

Helm teamed up with countryman Robert Newberry to win the men's synchronized 10-meter platform, holding off Americans David Boudia and Thomas Finchem.

Russia's Yulia Pakhalina won her second gold of the weekend in the women's 3-meter springboard by the narrowest of margins over He Zi of China (357.90-357.75).

The American divers will next compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials in Indianapolis on June 18-22.

MEMBER MISSING FROM CUBAN JUDO TEAM: A member of Cuba's women's national judo team left the team Sunday after the final day of the Pan American Judo Championships.

"All we can say for sure right now is that she has left the premises and that she is no longer with the team," USA Judo president Jose Rodriguez said Sundyay evening. "We have contacted the appropriate agencies and are working with the Cuban national team."

Rodriguez declined to disclose the name of the athlete.

Before this week, no Cuban Olympic team had visited Miami in more than 40 years.

NIZHEGORODOV SETS 50K WALK RECORD: Denis Nizhegorodov set a world record in the men's 50-kilometer walk at a World Cup meet Sunday in Cheboksary, Russia.

The Russian finished in 3 hours, 34 minutes, 13 seconds on a course along the Volga River, breaking the mark of 3:35:47 was set by Nathan Deakes of Australia at Geelong, Australia, on Dec. 2, 2006.

Nizhegorodov, who won silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics, also qualified for the Beijing Games.

WOMEN'S SOCCER: Natasha Kai had her first career hat trick with three second-half goals to lead the U.S. women to a 6-0 win against Canada in a friendly at RFK Stadium in Washington late Saturday.

Carli Lloyd, Leslie Osborne and Lindsay Tarpley also scored and Abby Wambach had three assists for the U.S. (13-0-1 this year).

The Americans next play Italy on June 15 in the Peace Queen Cup in Seoul, South Korea.