China claim 5th consecutive gold in women's synchronised 3m springboard

Tokyo: China's Shi Tingmao and Wang Han won the women's synchronised 3m springboard gold with 326.40 points at Tokyo 2020 here on Sunday.

Shi and Wang's win is China's fifth consecutive gold in the event since Athens 2004, and Shi's third diving Olympic gold.

"This is [the Chinese diving team's] first gold medal at this Olympics, so now I feel much more comfortable. I know we can be even better and China will do better," said Shi.

Shi will equal compatriot Guo Jingjing's record of four gold medals in the 3m springboard if she wins the individual event on August 1, though she played down the significance of doing so.

"I think no matter what we get, gold or silver, it doesn't define our success. It shows we are on the right track when we achieve our goals," said Shi.Asked how the Chinese team was able to maintain its dominance in diving, Wang said, "We work very hard in training. We make all the effort we can in training every day."

Jennifer Abel and Melissa Citrini Beaulieu claimed the silver medal for Canada with 300.78 points, representing the country's first medal in the event since a bronze at London 2012.

Abel and Beaulieu's silver also equaled the country's best result in a synchronised event at the Olympics, when Emilie Heymans and Anne Montminy finished second in the women's synchronised platform 10m at Sydney in 2000.

"I couldn't ask for a better day. It hasn't been easy, and also for Melissa, it's her first Olympic Games being by my side. But we did it as a team since 2017, and we're here today. Super satisfied," said Abel, who narrowly missed out on a medal at Rio 2016 when she finished fourth.

Tina Punzel and Lena Hentschel of Germany took the bronze with 284.97 points. It was Germany's second diving Olympic bronze medal after Beijing 2008, and the country's second medal overall so far at Tokyo 2020.