Fukuoka, Japan - University of Houston sophomore Yulia Pakhalina, the defending NCAA champion in two springboard diving events, won the bronze medal in the women's three-meter diving competition at the 2001 FINA World Championships held in Fukuoka, Japan (July 29).

Pakhalina finished third in the world with a score of 543.54 points in an 11-dive program. Chinese Olympian Jingjing Gou won the championship with a mark of 596.67. Also competing was former UH volunteer coach and 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist Vera Ilyina.

Ilyina and Pakhalina then combined to take the silver medal in the three-meter synchronized event. The Russian pair finished second in the world to China with a score of 320.61.

Pakhalina and the Cougar swimming and diving team will open up the 2001-2002 season with a double-dual meet against the University of Texas and Rice in Austin on Friday, September 28.

-UH-