Cao Yuan of China poses with his gold medal after winning men's 10m platform final in the Tokyo Olympics at Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo, Japan, August 7, 2021. /CFP
Cao Yuan of China won the gold medal in the men's 10m platform diving final on Saturday with 582.35 points, making it a perfect end for the Chinese diving team at the Tokyo Olympics.
Cao's teammate Yang Jian ranked second with 580.40 points, followed by 548.25 points of Britain's Tom Daley.
Daley paired with Matthew Lee to beat Cao/Chen Aisen to win men's synchronized 10m platform gold previously. Therefore, Daley was also the major challenger to Cao and Yang in the last diving event in Tokyo.
Cao started strong in Saturday's contest and received 102 points in his first dive finishing reverse 3½ somersaults (307C). Daley and Yang followed with 98.60 and 90.10 points respectively.
Cao Yuan of China competes in men's 10m platform final in the Tokyo Olympics at Tokyo Aquatics Centre, August 7, 2021. /CFP
Cao underperformed with his second dive of inward 3½ somersaults (407C), which was rated only 81.60 points, and fell to third. Daley exploited on his mistake and rose to the top, completing the same move to score 91.20 points. Yang finished the same move starting at different position (pick instead of tuck) to get 94.50 points, ranking second place.
Daley continued to lead receiving 91.80 points with forward 3½ somersaults 1 twist (5172B). Cao started afresh to finish back 3½ somersaults (207B) and score 92.20 points in his third dive, surpassing Yang to second and trailing Daley by only 0.80 points.
Cao continued with hot pursuit, completing an armstand back double somersault 2½ twists (6245D), forward 4½ somersaults (109C) and back 2½ somersaults 2½ twists (5255B) in the following three moves, being rated 97.20, 101.75 and 102.60 points respectively. Cao took the leading position back from the fourth dive and never let it slip away again.
Yang Jian of China poses with his silver medal after competing in men's 10m platform final in the Tokyo Olympics at Tokyo Aquatics Centre, August 7, 2021. /CFP
Meanwhile, Yang was also in the zone, He received 91.20, 102.60 and 112.75 points with forward 2½ somersaults 3 twists (5156B), back 3½ somersaults (207B) and forward 4½ somersaults (109B) respectively in his last three dives. In the end, Yang was only 1.95 points behind Cao.
Compared with Cao and Yang, Daley only had 80.50 points (armstand back 3 somersaults, 626B) in his fourth dive. Though he worked hard trying to catch up in the last two rounds, he was simply outperformed by Cao and Yang before getting a bronze medal in the end.
The Chinese diving team finished their Tokyo Olympics with a haul of seven golds and five silvers. Not only were they on top in seven out of eight events, Chinese athletes were also on top 2 in five events. Each of them had at least one medal.