Springboard, Men

The favorite was the defending champion and 1978 World Champion Phil Boggs – oh wait, he wasn’t in Moscow, a victim of the USA-led boycott. Another favorite was Greg Louganis – OK, you get the point.

In their absence, the gold medal went to Soviet diver Aleksandr Portnov, who was felt to benefit from some hometown officiating. On an early final dive, he flopped badly on a back 2½, but protested that he had been distracted by the cheering crowd, which was watching the 100 butterfly final. Portnov was awarded another dive, and performed it well this time. This did not sit well with Mexican Carlos Girón, eventual silver medalist, nor Italy’s Franco Cagnotto, the bronze medalist, and fourth-placed Falk Hoffmann of East Germany, who had been runner-up to Boggs at the 1978 Worlds. They protested that they had had to dive through similar distractions and Portnov should not have been awarded another dive. For two days the officials met before holding a medal ceremony. But this was Moscow and Portnov was a Soviet, so again, you get the point.

Portnov won a bronze in this event at the 1982 Worlds. Greg Louganis won.