Olympics-Diving-Teen duo extend China women’s winning streak

By By Yuki Nitta and Amy Tennery

TOKYO (Reuters) -Teen divers Chen Yuxi and Zhang Jiaqi blew their opponents away in the women’s 10 metre synchronised platform on Tuesday, extending China’s winning streak in the event to six Olympic Games.

Aged 15 and 17, the duo - who hugged each other at the podium after receiving their gold medals - were in a league of their own at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.

They finished on 363.78 points, more than 52 ahead of second-placed Jessica Parratto and Delaney Schnell of the United States.

“We do have an advantage in our age. We are short and light, and this means that our (water) entry is better than the others,” said Zhang after winning their country’s second diving gold in Tokyo.

“Our weakness is we are inexperienced. They have much more experience, we only have one World Championships.”

Chen added: “Of course, we can feel the pressure because we are young, (but) we have nothing to lose. We are brave to face any challenges.”

China has an unbeaten record in the event, which was introduced in 2000, while Parratto and Schnell’s medal was America’s first.

“I didn’t know (we could win silver) until pretty much the last dive. Just absolutely insane,” said Parratto. “I feel like this event is always so close, so there’s always that team that’s kind of fighting to get almost a bronze.”

Mexico’s Gabriela Agundez Garcia and Alejandra Orozco Loza took bronze with 299.70.

“This is the result of so many many many years of work,” said Agundez Garcia. “Many years of fighting, of giving everything in every training session.”

China’s dream of sweeping up all eight diving golds ended on Monday when Britain’s Tom Daley and Matty Lee took the men’s synchronised 10 metre platform title.

The competition resumes on Wednesday with the men’s synchronised 3 metre springboard final.

(Reporting by Yuki Nitta and Amy Tennery; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and John Stonestreet)

Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Diving - Women’s 10m Platform Synchro - Final - Tokyo Aquatics Centre, Tokyo, Japan - July 27, 2021. Chen Yuxi of China and Zhang Jiaqi of China in action REUTERS/Marko Djurica

Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Diving - Women’s 10m Platform Synchro - Final - Tokyo Aquatics Centre, Tokyo, Japan - July 27, 2021. Chen Yuxi of China and Zhang Jiaqi of China reacts after winning REUTERS/Marko Djurica