China wins first diving gold of Rio Games

Shi Tingmao (CHN) and Wu Minxia (CHN) of China (PRC) pose with their gold medals.[Photo/Agencies]

RIO DE JANEIRO-- China secured the first diving gold medal of the Rio Olympics when Wu Minxia and Shi Tingmao won the women's synchronised 3m springboard on Sunday.

The pair lived up to its billing as favorite with an overall score of 345.60 points from five dives, some 31.77 points ahead of silver medallists Tania Cagnotto and Francesca Dallape of Italy.

Australia's Maddison Keeney and Anabelle Smith took bronze with 299.19 points.

The result at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Center continued China's remarkable sequence of results in the event. The Asian nation has won every world and Olympic title in the women's synchronized springboard since the 2000 Sydney Games.

The performance also secured a raft of records for veteran Wu.

The 30-year-old has now won the most Olympic diving medals by a woman, surpassing compatriot Guo Jingjing with seven podium finishes.

She also became the oldest woman to win an Olympic diving medal, overtaking the USA's Micki King, who was 28 when she won the springboard title in 1972.

In addition, Wu equalled the record held by Canada's Emilie Heymans for diving medals in the most Olympic Games (four).