SAINT-DENIS, France — Chen Yiwen and Chang Yani began China’s bid to capture all eight women’s Olympic diving golds by winning the synchronized 3-meter springboard event on Saturday.
First-time Olympians Chen and Chang, who arrived in Paris having won three consecutive world titles, finished on 337.68 points, but received a scare from the United States duo of Kassidy Cook and Sarah Bacon.
The US tandem took silver to claim the first medal of the Paris Games for the Americans.
Chen, 25, and Chang, more than two years her junior, kicked off the competition with a back dive in the pike position to loud cheers from the fans, many of whom were dressed in China’s team jacket and waving national flags.
“Today we performed normally but we have higher standards for ourselves when it comes to the scores. We need to keep working at it,” Chang, who looked emotional after winning her first Olympic gold medal, told reporters.
Performing the same routines as Chen and Chang, Cook and Bacon gave China a scare after scoring equal points in the second round.
The US fell short in following dives to take silver with 314.64 points.
“I don’t think we had our all time best performance out there today, but we had a really solid performance and it’s something that I’m very proud of,” a grinning Cook said. “I’m very pleased with the silver medal. I think following the Chinese is a big responsibility almost. The Chinese hardly ever mess up but they kind of set the tone for the competition and pushed me and Sarah to put together five solid dives.”
The win gives China six Olympic titles in a row in the event, which was introduced into the Games program in 2000.
Spectators at the Olympic Aquatics Centre, a new venue built for the Games in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, filled up the bulk of the seats to create a festive atmosphere.
Many were draped in national flags and cheered as the divers performed twists and somersaults before the final plunge.
China’s Guo Jingjing, a four-time Olympic gold medalist in the 3m springboard event, refereed Saturday’s competition and was given a loud cheer when she was introduced on the screen.
Chen, the world No. 1, is set to compete with her best friend Chang in the 3m individual event.
Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jenson took bronze, Britain’s first medal in Paris.
–Reuters, Special to Field Level Media
