Guo Jingjing of China   MELBOURNE, March 26 - Olympic champion Guo Jingjing held her reign in springboard by winning her fourth consecutive world title here on Sunday at the World Championships.

 

Guo led the field of 12 finalists in the women's three-meter springboard event since the first round. After five excellent dives, the dual Olympic champion won the gold with a total score of 381.75 points.

 

"I could feel the pressures during competition," Guo said, "but I just tried my best to be relaxed."

 

Guo became the first diver who claimed four victories consecutively in one event at the World Championships.

 

"I had never thought about it before," the 25-year-old said, "and I felt nothing special now."

 

But the veteran admitted that every World Championships gold meant different for her.

 

"I received my first gold in 2001 and then in 2003 while I was preparing for the Athens Olympics. In 2005, the gold proved my capabilities of winning, and this year, it is again preparing me for the Beijing Olympics next year. However, this might be my last World Championships."

 

Guo's teammate Wu Minxia took the silver medal with 368.80 points and Italian Tania Cagnotto finished third with 341.70 points.

 

Guo would possibly achieved another four Championships winning stretch in the women's three-meter springboard synchronized diving, as she had grabbed three golds in the event since 2001.

 

Guo is going to pair up Wu Minxia again in the event on next Monday. The Olympic gold winning duo were also the gold combination at the 2001 and 2003 World Championships.

 

At the 2005 World Championships, Guo was combined with Li Ting to claim the victory.