The first medals of the 2024 Olympic Games have been awarded as China took home gold in the women’s 3-meter synchronized springboard diving event.
The Chinese duo of Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen dove to a final score of 337.68 and led the entire competition after a first round leading 52.80. Their highest single round score came in round four as they scored 79.98 points.
Winning silver was the American duo of Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook. They finished in a final score of a 314.64. The two were in 3rd after the first round but moved into 2nd and held their position for the rest of the rounds.
Great Britain’s Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen won bronze in a 302.28. They climbed back up the results after being 6th through 3 rounds and two solid final dives propelled them up the ranks.
Chang and Chen came into the competition as one of the favorites, after winning the last three World Championships together.
The duo continued China’s history of their strength in the diving events. The Chinese women notably swept gold in all four of the events at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics while the men won three out of four events. In addition to gold in all four events, the Chinese women also won silver in two events.
Swimming will begin to award medals tonight with four finals beginning at 2:30 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST). The four come in the men’s and women’s 400 freestyle as well as in both the men’s and women’s 4×100 freestyle relays.