Cao Yuan of China was top qualifier in the semifinals of the men’s 3-meter springboard at the Rio Olympics, but Yucatán’s Rommel Pacheco was right behind, in second place.
Pacheco was just ahead of Russia’s Evgenii Kuznetsov and Mike Hixon of the United States.
The top 12 will compete for the gold at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Center at 5 p.m. Eastern Time today.
Yuan earned bronze in the synchronized 3m event last Wednesday.
Mexico so far has earned no medals in the Rio Olympics.
Could that end later today? Pacheco, 30, was the gold medalist in the 10-meter platform at the 2003 Pan American Games.
And Pacheco is performing more impressively than he did in the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics. In 2004, he finished in 10th place in the 10-meter platform and 3-meter springboard. Four years later, he finished in 8th place in the 10-meter platform.
With information from NBC, Associated Press
