Shi Tingmao/Wang Han take China's 1st diving gold at Tokyo Olympics

Shi Tingmao (L) and Wang Han of China celebrate with the gold medals after winning the women's 3-meter synchronized springboard diving final at the Tokyo Aquatics Center in Tokyo, Japan, July 25, 2021. /CFP

Chinese duo Shi Tingmao and Wang Han clinched the first diving gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday, earning the Rio champion Shi a second Olympic title in the women's 3m synchronized springboard.

This was also the first gold for the Chinese diving team at the Tokyo Olympics, the fifth straight in the event for Team China and first Olympic championship for Wang.

Shi/Wang were leading in all five rounds and began to establish a visible advantage from the third dive. The Chinese pair chose Back 2½ Somersaults (Code 205B), Reverse 2½ Somersaults (305B) and Inward 2½ Somersaults (405B) for the third, fourth and fifth dives respectively. Each dive was completed successfully, leading Shi and Wang to seal the win with a total of 326.40 points.

Jennifer Abel/Mélissa Citrini-Beaulieu of Canada got the silver medal with 300.78 points, followed by the 284.97 points of Germany's Lena Hentschel/Tina Punzel.