Synchronized Platform, Women

Chen Yuxi and Quan Hongchan of China were the clear favorites in this event. The two had won the last three World titles and were the two leading solo platform divers. Chen had also won gold in this event in Tokyo, but with a different partner. The two were never in trouble during the competition. In most dives, they were nearly 10 points better than their nearest opponents, and they comfortably won gold. It was a historical 49th Olympic gold medal for Chinese divers, as they surpassed the United States’ total of 48 golds. The US still led China, however, in the total number of diving medals won at the Games.

The British and Canadian duos were battling for second place in Paris but, with their three final dives, it was the pair from DPR Korea that took silver instead. Kim Mi-Rae and Jo Jin-Mi won the country’s first ever Olympic diving medals. Kim had previously won a World silver in 2017 and had been fourth in the event at Rio 2016. Despite this, the duo expressed disappointment in not having won the gold. After four dives, the Canadians Caeli McKay and Kate Miller held a five-point lead over the British pair, but Andrea Spendolini Sirieix and Lois Toulson went all out in their final dive and made up the deficit to capture the bronze medal.