China’s stretch of dominance in Olympic synchronized diving events continued on Tuesday when Chen Ruolin and Liu Huixia put on an impressive 354.00-point show for the gold medal.
Malaysia’s Pandelela Rinong Pamg and Cheong Jun Hoong took silver with 344.34 points.
The battle for third came down to the final dives with Canada’s Meaghan Benfeito and Roseline Filion narrowly holding on to snatch the bronze with 336.18 points.
North Korea’s Kim Kuk-hyang and Kim Mi-rae (322.44 points) and Great Britain’s Tonia Couch and Lois Toulson (319.44) finished just off the podium.
Americans Amy Cozad and Jessica Parratto, who were each competing in their first career Olympic event, finished in seventh place with a score of 301.02.
At 23 years of age, Chen has already etched her name in the Olympic record books. Tuesday’s gold gives her five career Olympic gold medals in five career events, evening her with countrywoman Wu Minxia for the most diving golds won by an individual in Olympics history.
Wu took gold in the women’s synchronized 3m springboard on Sunday alongside partner Shi Tingmao.
Chen, who was on the Chinese national diving team by age 11, also became the first non-teenager to take gold in the women’s synchronized 10m platform.
The Chinese have now won gold in 16 of 19 events since synchronized diving was installed in the Olympics in 2000.
The diving pool at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Center, which was a pristine blue for the events on Sunday and Monday, took on a greenish hue overnight.
The women climb the platform again for the individual event beginning 2pm on Wednesday, Aug. 17.