China Wins Gold In Women's Synchronized 3-Meter Springboard; US Takes Silver In The Diving Event

By Jeff Stone | July 29 2012 6:51 PM

The first diving gold medal of the London 2012 Olympic Games went to China's Wu Minxia and He Zi: The duo scored 346.20 points in the women's synchronized 3-meter springboard event Sunday.

Reuters

China's Wu Minxia, shown here, and He Zi won the first diving gold medal of the London 2012 Olympic Games, besting both American and Canadian duos in the women's synchronized 3-meter springboard event Sunday.

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The Chinese won seven of eight possible gold medals during the Beijing 2008 Olympics, according to the Boston Herald. They went on to sweep the gold-medal category when Shanghai hosted the world championships last year.

This time around, Americans Kelci Bryant and Abby Johnston took the silver medal with a score of 321.90, while Canadians Jennifer Abel and Emilie Heymans took the bronze medal with a score of 316.80.

With her fifth gold medal, Wu is now within striking distance of Guo Jingjing's record of six. Wu and He ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in the individual 3-meter event at the world championships last year, according to USA Today. The duo barely made a splash Sunday with an inward 2-1/2 somersault.

Bryant's and Johnston's silver medal marks the first time the U.S. has medaled in a synchronized event, which was introduced during the Sydney 2000 Olympics. American teams had previously gone 0-for-12, although Reuters noted that Bryant narrowly missed medal honors in Beijing.

Synchronized divers do not compete in any preliminary or semifinal events, but immediately go to the finals. The men's synchronized 10-meter platform finals are scheduled for Monday, while the women's finals are set for Tuesday.