China won its first two gold medals at the Paris Olympics on Saturday, following the county’s dominance in diving while defending victory in the 10m air rifle mixed team competition.
China has dominated diving for decades, winning seven of eight gold medals in Tokyo three years ago. But it never pulled off the elusive golden sweep. That’s the goal this time.
It was a perfect start for the team of Zhang Yani and Chen Yiwen as they won the women’s synchronized 3m springboard with 337.68 points in five dives. They were followed by USA’s Sarah Bacon and Cassidy Cook with 314.64 points and Great Britain’s Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen took bronze with 302.28 points.
The same Chinese pair have won gold at the last three world championships and are heavy favourites.
A crowd of Chinese fans and flags chanted “jiayou” — roughly translated as “let’s go” — every time the Chinese stepped out to dive.
The event was added in 2000, and Chinese women have won gold six times in seven games. In 2000 there was a defeat against Russia. China won three years ago in Tokyo with Shi Tingmao and Wang Han.
Beginning at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, China won its first diving gold, and it won 47 of 64 gold medals in diving. A total of 23 silver and 10 bronze.
Earlier at the Olympic Shooting Range in Chatroux, Huang Yuding and Sheng Lihao took a four-point lead over South Korea’s Geum Jihyeon and Park Hajun in the 10m gold medal clash. Air Rifle won the mixed team competition 16-12.
“My main feeling is happiness. The competition was very tough, but I was able to produce a personal best,” said the 19-year-old Sheng.
China also won the event in Tokyo three years ago, with Yang Qian and Yang Haran winning the gold medal as the team made its air rifle shooting Olympic debut.
Kazakhstan’s Alexandra Lee and Islam Satbayev won the bronze medal by defeating Germany’s Anna Janssen and Maximilian Ulbricht 17-5.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
