By Beth Harris

Associated Press

ASSOCIATED PRESS >> David Boudia, top, who teamed with his good friend, Thomas Finchum, in the synchronized diving competition, represents the U.S.’s best chance at picking up a medal or two.

CHINA asserted its dominance as the worldÕs diving superpower four years ago, winning six of eight events at the Athens Olympics. Not much has changed.

At last year’s world championships, the Chinese went one better, claiming seven of eight golds.

They’ll be going for a golden sweep in their home pool at the Beijing Games. They signaled their intentions at a recent Grand Prix in Rome, winning all eight gold medals and finishing 1-2 in three of four individual events.

Luck might be on their side, too. The number eight symbolizes prosperity in Chinese culture, a reason why the opening ceremony is on Aug. 8.

The United States, meanwhile, will try to avoid duplicating its humiliating results in Athens, where the Americans were blanked for the first time in 92 years.

“We will not be shut out at these Olympic games,” vowed team leader Bob Rydze.

America’s best chance at a medal or two rests with David Boudia, a 19-year-old Olympic rookie from Noblesville, Ind. He finished third in the Water Cube pool during a World Cup meet in February.

Boudia won the 10-meter platform title at the U.S. trials, receiving 11 perfect marks from the judges.

“David is amazing,” 2000 Olympic champion Laura Wilkinson said. “I’ll really be rooting for him.”

The U.S. men have not won an Olympic gold on platform since Greg Louganis captured his second straight at the 1988 Seoul Games.

But Boudia, like other international divers, has increased his degree of difficulty in the hopes of putting more pressure on the Chinese.

“I know it’s definitely possible to dethrone the Chinese and win gold,” Boudia said. “We’ve seen them get beat before. We know they can be beaten, which is good to know.”

Wilkinson proved it in 2000, winning a surprise gold medal on a broken foot in Sydney after edging China’s Li Na by 1.74 points.

The Texan is back for her third - and final - Olympics at age 30. Joining Wilkinson on his third Olympic team is Troy Dumais, who’ll try to become the first American male diver since Mark Lenzi took bronze in 1996 to earn a 3-meter springboard medal.

Dumais said the team dynamics that likely hurt the divers in Athens shouldn’t be a problem in Beijing.

“Just like a family being around each other, you learn how to support one another,” he said. “I think our team building has been far, far better than what we’ve had in past (years).”

Boudia will team with his good friend, 18-year-old Thomas Finchum, for the synchronized platform competition. The duo medaled in 10 consecutive international meets on synchro platform from 2006 to 2007.

Wilkinson is the lone veteran on the U.S. women’s team. She’s joined by a couple of 15-year-olds, Haley Ishimatsu and Mary Beth Dunnichay. They’ll compete as a synchro platform team, while Ishimatsu will dive in individual platform.

China’s team will be sup-ported by the home crowd, which is passionate and knowledgeable about a sport that dominates the communist nation.

They’ll watch the Aug. 9-23 diving competition in the Water Cube, with its translucent, blue-toned outside skin that makes it look like a cube of bubbles or “bubble wrap.”

Guo Jingjing is the veteran star of the Chinese team. The 27-year-old will be competing in her fourth Olympics, defending her gold medal on springboard. She hasn’t lost at a major international meet since the 2000 Sydney Games.

Guo will try to duplicate the back-to-back 3-meter titles earned by countrywomen Fu Mingxia (1996 and 2000) and Gao Min (1988 and 1992).