Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen Storm to Women’s Synchronised 3m Springboard Gold at Paris 2024
Paris, France – Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen of China delivered an outstanding performance to secure gold in the women’s synchronised 3m springboard final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The duo, who have dominated the event by winning three consecutive world titles, scored an impressive 337.68 points, affirming their status as the favorites.
The American pair, Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook, known as “Cook’N’Bacon,” put up a strong challenge and earned the silver medal with 314.64 points. Great Britain’s Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen captured the bronze with a score of 302.28, achieving their first medal at Paris 2024.
The final saw dramatic shifts, particularly when Australia’s Maddison Keeney and Anabelle Smith, who were in contention for a medal, faltered on their last dive and dropped to fifth place.
The Chinese team began the competition with a precise back dive in the pike position, earning loud cheers from the enthusiastic crowd, many of whom were draped in Chinese flags. Despite feeling that they performed “normally” by their standards, both Chang and Chen expressed a desire to aim for even higher scores in future performances.
Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook matched the Chinese pair’s scores in the second round, providing a brief scare. However, they couldn’t maintain the momentum and settled for silver. Cook reflected on their performance, stating, “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.”
The event marked China’s sixth consecutive Olympic title in the women’s synchronised 3m springboard since its introduction in 2000. The competition took place at the new Olympic Aquatics Centre in Saint-Denis, which was filled with a vibrant and supportive crowd.
China’s diving legend, Guo Jingjing, a four-time Olympic gold medallist in the 3m springboard event, served as a referee for the event and received a warm reception from the audience.
Looking ahead, Chen Yiwen, the world number one, is set to compete alongside her best friend, Chang Yani, in the individual 3m springboard event.
