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กก ATHENS, Aug. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- Sydney Olympic champion Tian Liang turned 25
Friday but the Chinese number one diver would not have aparty until the platform
final at the Athens Olympic Games with the best gift -- the victory.
"There won't be a birthday party tonight because I need a good rest and to be
focused on the semi-final and final tomorrow," said the Sydney platform winner
after finishing third in the preliminary Friday, behind Australian Mathew Helm
and Alexander Despatie of Canada.
"I haven't planned for my party but a gold medal will definitely be the
most-welcomed gift," he said, already a titlist in the synchronized platform
here.
The semi-final takes place Saturday afternoon before 12 out of the 18
divers qualify for the final in the evening, when the diving competition draws
its curtain.
"The final victory will be the the best birthday gift for Tian.I will not celebrate
for him today but wait until the final," said Zhang Ting, coaching Tian
for some 18 years since the Chongqing native picked up diving at seven.
A slanting entry into the water in the second dive left Tian inthird in the preliminary
but the self-confident defending champion said it was a great
position for tomorrow.
"You should know that every time my teammates won at these Olympic Games,
they never topped the preliminary," he said half-jokingly.
"The errors I made today are my goal for improvement. If I had dived too
good I would have nothing to do tomorrow," he said.
Zhang agreed with his protege.
"Tian is saving the best for the last. But he has to have a good start and
leave the pressure to his opponents," Zhang said.
"Consistency is vital in the final but I believe he is the best when he
bring his potential to a full display," Zhang added.
Tian's birthday, however, will not pass totally unnoticed.
The 31-year-old Roman Volodkov brought Tian a sweet surprise ontheir way to
the competition venue in the morning when the Ukrainediver gave him a hand-made
little flower basket as a gift.
"What a nice surprise! I didn't expect Roman to remember my birthday. I am
really moved," Tian said. Enditem | 
