Record sixth 3m synchro gold for Wu

Favourites China lived up to their top billing Saturday as Wu Minxia claimed a record sixth gold medal in the 3m synchronised diving event at the world championships in Barcelona.

Olympic and world champion Wu partnered Shi Tingmao to the title as the pair piled up 338.40 points with Italy landing silver courtesy of 307.80 points for Tania Cagnotto and Francesca Dellape.

Canadian pair Jennifer Abel and Pamela Ware took bronze with 292.08 points as the Chinese served up due warning they intend to emulate the 10 golds they managed in the 2011 championships back home in Shanghai.

For Wu it was a record sixth world 3m synchronised springboard title while the triumph was China's seventh on a roll in the event.

Wu and 1m springboard world title-holder Shi were far too strong as they brushed off a bold challenge from recently crowned European champions Cagnotto and Dallape, who actually led after the opening round before the favourites underlined their topdog status at the Montjuic Municipal Pool.

In all, Wu now has amassed 13 world championships diving medals, seven of them golds.

"These are my seventh world championships, but this time I have a new partner," said Wu.

"This gold medal proves that our effort paid off. I am now the leader of the group, and I can bring them my experience."

Despite also winning gold in the event at three successive Olympics - 2004, 2008 and 2012 -- the 27-year-old said she is not thinking about retirement.

"I know that most girls at my age normally think about other things in life, like having a family, I need more time to think about that," said Wu, who also collected 2012 Olympic gold in the 3m springboard.