* Espinosa, via Getty Images.
Mexican diver Paola Espinosa stunned the reigning Olympic gold medalist Chen Ruolin in the 10-meter platform event at the World Championships in Rome last week. Beating the powerhouse Chinese in diving is no small feat. "I have worked hard all my life," she told reporters later. "Now my next goal is to confirm this gold medal at the Olympic Games in London 2012."
After track star Ana Guevara didn't deliver the gold at Athens and Sydney, then turned to politics, Espinosa will be Mexico's athlete to root for at the London Games. A 22-year-old native of Baja California, Espinosa won the bronze in synchronized diving with partner Tatiana Ortiz in Beijing last year.
Meanwhile, fellow diver Yahel Castillo (who was named among the "sexiest athletes" at the Games in Beijing) is still a contender for Olympic glory but is also turning into a bit of a disappointment. Mexican diving officials sanctioned Castillo for allegedly arriving drunk at an event at the World University Games in Belgrade earlier this month. He apologized in an interview with Televisa Sports, and asked for forgiveness: "The atmosphere at a University meet is not the same as a World meet or the Olympic Games."
The 22-year-old diver was allowed to compete in Rome after all. Today, Yahel advanced to the finals in the 3-meter diving board event.