Thomas Daley and Matty Lee were the protagonists of a thrilling final in the men’s 10m platform synchro, the second diving event at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. The British pair got the gold in 471.81, thus earning the second male Olympic diving title ever for their country, after the successful milestone in the men’s 3m synchro crown in Rio 2016 (by Jack Laugher/Chris Mears). Daley is also the first British diver with three medals in Olympic history, after his bronze in 10m individual in London 2012 and 10m synchro in Rio 2016. For China, the silver in 470.58 represents the interruption of a consecutive series of four wins in this event, since 2004. Moreover, the Asian powerhouse had won nine out of the last 10 consecutive finals in the event, both at Olympic and world level (Germany won the final at the Barcelona 2013 FINA showcase).
The turning point of the final here
in Tokyo was the fourth round, when Cao Yuan and Chen Aisen missed their entry
for a back 3 ½ somersaults (pike), getting a low 73.44 from the judges. Despite
a fantastic last round – 101.52 points, the highest of the final, for a back 2
½ somersaults 2 ½ twists (pike) -, the Chinese pair could never recovered and
had to content with the second position, exactly 1.23 points behind the British
duet. In that unsuccessful round for China, Daley and Lee performed the same
combination than their main rivals, getting an excellent 93.96. Two rounds later,
the British also didn’t shake in the 109C (forward 4 ½ somersaults, tuck),
earning the second-best score of the afternoon, 101.01.
The outcome of the final was sealed,
with Cao and Chen being prevented of earning what would have been their third
Olympic gold. Cao, a versatile diver, performing both from 3m and 10m, had won
the individual springboard in Rio 2016 and the 10m platform synchro in London
2012, while Chen had the two previous 10m titles (individual and synchro) from
the Games in Brazil, five years ago.
This amazing fight for the gold,
eclipsed the duel for the bronze medal, eventually won by Aleksandr Bondar and
Viktor Minibaev, representing the Russian Olympic Committee. It is their first
Olympic medal, after having notably excelled in their fourth and sixth round,
where they got exactly the same 89.64 points from the judges. At the end, they
cumulated 439.92 for the bronze in Tokyo.
FINA
Michael Phelps Teaches Swimming
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