SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — With Tom Daley gone, China is one step closer to an unprecedented monopoly on Olympic diving.
Lian Junjie and Yang Hao easily won the synchronized 10-meter platform on Monday, giving the Big Red Machine the winning laurels. Two consecutive gold medals Of the Paris Games.
The three-time world champions received numerous perfect 10s from the judges, with no marks below 8.0, and finished with an astounding score of 490.35 points. Their final dive, a quadruple-and-a-half forward somersault into a tuck position, earned them the top spot on the podium.
Even before the final scores were announced – 9.0 and 9.5 – China’s coaches were hugging and celebrating, and fans were waving Chinese flags in the stands at the new Olympic swimming centre next to the Stade de France on the outskirts of Saint-Denis.
“Obviously China had some really great diving today, they put in an incredible performance,” said Daly, the British Olympian who won gold in the event in Tokyo but had to settle for silver this time. “All of their dives were perfect.”
Big Red Machine Maintains Dominance
China took the sports world by storm Japan, in the post-Greg Louganis era, is trying to become the first country to win every gold medal in diving since the sport doubled from four to eight events with the addition of synchro in 2000.
Since this expansion, China has won 40 of the 50 gold medals, including 7 out of 8 at the past two Summer Olympics.
No country has had a monopoly on diving since the 1952 Helsinki Games, when the United States won all four events.
It was China’s 49th diving gold medal, tying them with the United States for the most in Olympic history, a record that seems inevitable for China to claim before the end of the Games.
“I don’t think anyone can lose,” Yang said. “We just have to take the chance.”
Daly vs. Chinese team role reversal
Three years ago in Tokyo, China’s only loss came in the men’s 10-meter synchro event. Daly and Matty Lee pull off upset for Great Britain China won the silver medal.
This time, the tables were turned: Daley and new partner Noah Williams took silver with 463.44 points. Bronze went to Canada’s Rylan Wiens and Nathan Zombor-Murray with 422.13 points, just beating fan favorites Mexico (418.65).
Yang celebrated by wearing sunglasses featuring the Olympic rings.
“I’m very happy to bring gold to China and bring it home from Tokyo,” she said through a translator. “I don’t want to think too much about my final performance. If I do my best, things will go well in the end.”
Li was unable to compete in Paris earlier this year after undergoing spinal surgery.
Daily Medals Earned
The 30-year-old Daly had planned to retire after the Tokyo Olympics, but a visit to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs inspired him to decide to compete in one more Olympics.
With her husband, Dustin Lance Black, and their two young sons, Robbie and Phoenix, cheering him on from the stands, Daley added to his medal tally with one gold, one silver and three bronze medals.
After accepting his silver medal at the victory ceremony, Daly waved and blew kisses to his family.
“Diving is what makes me happiest,” Daly said, “and it’s not necessarily my number one priority. Of course, it’s very important, but nothing is more important than spending time with my kids.”
Daley could return in 2028
Daly isn’t sure what the future holds, but he has his sights set on competing in a sixth Olympic Games in 2028.
He said he currently lives in Los Angeles, site of the next Summer Olympics.
“This will be my second home Olympics,” Daly said with a smile, referencing the 2012 London Games. “Right now I just want to enjoy this moment.”
Unrepresented Americans
The United States failed to secure one of the eight Olympic berths.
This was the only diving event the U.S. did not compete in at the Paris Games. The U.S. opened the competition on Saturday with silver medals from Sarah Bacon and Cassidy Cook in the women’s synchronized 3-meter springboard event.
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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-Paris-Olympic-Games
