Wu Mingxia couldn’t stop smiling. With the gold medal around her neck, she was finally the world champion in 3-metre diving after settling for silver twice before.

Wu held off teammate He Zi by 1.7 points to give China its ninth gold medal and 13th overall at the outdoor pool yesterday.

China could complete its first sweep of the gold medals at worlds on Sunday. Qio Bo was the top qualifier heading into the men’s 10-metre final.

Wu totalled 380.85 points in the five-dive round Saturday, while He finished with 379.15 despite a foot injury she sustained two months ago. Earlier, they teamed to win the springboard synchro title.

It was Wu’s first individual springboard title after being runner-up in 2005 and ‘07. She didn’t compete in the event two years ago in Rome.

Jennifer Abel of Canada earned the bronze with 365.10 after finishing 11th in Rome. American Christina Loukas was fourth with 350.10.

He led after two rounds before Wu took over the top spot for good. Wu was a model of consistency, slipping into the water with barely a splash despite He being in close pursuit.

In the third round, He’s feet weren’t straight upon entry, which cost her the lead. She was fourth in Rome.

Recently retired NBA star Yao Ming attended the final and signed autographs. The Chinese fans appeared nearly as interested in snapping photos of him with newly grown facial hair as they were in cheering on Wu and He.

The other American diver, Kelci Bryant, finished seventh. Emilie Heymans of Canada, the silver medalist in Rome, was last in the 12-woman field. She badly missed her third dive when he feet hit the water and struggled on her fourth dive before closing out the round with a big splash on her last dive.