PARIS: China’s defending champion Quan Hongchan and teammate Chen Yuxi both cruised into the women’s 10m platform diving final at the Paris Olympic Games on Monday.
Quan, 17, led the preliminary in the morning at ease before keeping her dominance in the semifinal to reach the final with a score of 421.05 points.
Three years ago, a 14-year-old Quan delivered three perfect marks in her five dives to claim her gold at the Tokyo Olympics.
The 18-year-old Chen, who followed Quan to finish second in the individual event in Tokyo, didn’t perform at her best, but claimed the second highest score in the semifinal in 403.05.
“I still need time to get used to the rhythm of the Olympic Games,” said Chen, who paired up Quan to win the synchronized platform event on Wednesday.
“I performed better in the semifinal than in the preliminary, but it’s still not good. What I can do tomorrow is just keeping calm and carrying on,” she added.
British teenager Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix finished third in the semifinal in 367.00, while Australia’s fifth Olympian Melissa Wu also made the final.
“It could be better, but I’m super happy to be in the final at my fifth Olympic Games,” said the 32-year-old Wu, who took the bronze medal at the Tokyo Games.
