China’s Quan Hongchan and Chen Yuxi won gold in the women’s synchronised 10-metre platform event on Wednesday, extending the country’s winning streak in diving.
The pair established their lead in the first round and finished with 359.10 points.
North Korea’s Jo Jin Mi and Kim Mi Rae took silver and Britain’s Andrea Spendolini Sirieix and Lois Toulson ended up with bronze.
Quan and Chen, both second-time Olympians, won the synchronised gold medal for the first time as a pair.
Their victory came as little surprise given 17-year-old Quan and Chen, 18, have won nine world titles since teaming up in 2022.
The pair dominated Wednesday’s event from the beginning, taking a nearly 15-point lead in the first two dives.
But it was in the last three dives when their skills were really exemplified, with the routines involving more difficult somersaults and twists.
They performed with control and ease, making clean entries which almost seemed effortless.
North Korea’s 19-year-old Jo and 23-year-old Kim were little known before 2024. The pair, who took second place in the Doha World Championships in February, performed their last three dives with stability and composure and climbed to second place.
Canada’s Caeli McKay and Kate Miller, who were ranked third before the last round, lost their place on the podium after their last dive went out of sync.
Quan became China’s overnight sensation at the age of 14 when she won gold in the individual 10-metre platform event three years ago at the Tokyo Games.
Chen, who took the silver behind Quan, won the synchronised event four years ago with then partner Zhang Jiaqi.
Quan and Chen walked onto the top of the podium to loud cheers and chanting from Chinese spectators who were waving dozens of the country’s flags
Spendolini-Sirieix & Toulson snatch diving bronze: As it happened
11:37 AM BST
Family and friends celebrate
11:21 AM BST
On the podium
11:13 AM BST
The bronze medal is secured!
11:09 AM BST
Bronze for Team GB duo
11:00 AM BST
‘What a performance’
Well that was tense. A quite sensational final dive by Andrea Spendolini Siriex and Lois Toulson pulled them up the table to finish in third place. After they had executed their brilliant back 2.5 somersault 1.5 twist dive, accruing themselves a monster 77.76 points it was a matter of waiting and hoping, watching each of the other pairs.
Clearly the Chinese did better than them, as they had at every stage. And the Koreans did enough to hold them off. But when the Canadians stumbled, things suddenly looked rosy.
And by the time all eight pairs had gone, the British twosome had won bronze. What a performance. What a result.
10:54 AM BST
Team GB claim a bronze medal
What a performance from the British Pair and they have done it!
There is such delight for Team GB’s Andrea Spendolini-Sireix and Lois Toulson who embrace with delight. The Americans’ last effort was insufficient meaning they are guaranteed a bronze medal.
Their podium position was in doubt after a sub-par dive in the third round but they came up with the goods with it mattered!
Of course China take the gold, they are utterly dominant in this discipline – North Korea will take the silver.
Great Britain are Olympic bronze medalists in the women’s synchronised 10m platform.
10:45 AM BST
What a final dive from the British pair
Wow, they have saved the best to last!
Lois Toulson and Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix produced a sensational last dive to score 77.76 to put them right back into medal contention. They executed their brilliant back 2.5 somersault 1.5 twist dive, accruing themselves a huge score.
Over to you North Korea and Canada . . .
10:40 AM BST
‘Things are getting tense’
The Chinese pair seem to be diving on another level here. Smooth, organised, in perfect harmony, they are gaining way more points than anyone else. After four dives, the race is on for silver.
Right now, the Koreans and Canadians are leading the charge. But the British pair have moved up to fourth. With one to go, things are getting tense.
10:37 AM BST
Are Team GB slipping out of contention?
The British pair have just posted their fourth round score of 69.20 after letting their synchronisation slip again.
They have a total score of 226.62.
10:36 AM BST
China are dominating
After three rounds, China are way out in front, Canada are in silver medal position while Mexico and North Korea are tied for bronze.
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China – 191.10
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Canada – 162.90
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Mexico and North Korea – 162.30
10:31 AM BST
With two dives to go, Team GB have sunk to fifth
A poor dive by the Britons on their forward 3.5 somersaults pike. They looked out of synch, twisting at marginally different times. Unfortunately that is a dive with a high potential score.
They gain 60.3 points. The Chinese doing the same dive but with far greater precision, pick up 80.10. Even the USA, the bottom ranked side going into that round, bettered them. With two dives to go, GB have now sunk down the table to fifth place.
10:27 AM BST
Poor third dive from the British pair
A shaky dive from Great Britain, who are given a score of 60.30.
Not a ideal from the British pair – the difficulty was increased with a forward 3.5 somersaults pike but sadly their synchronization wasn’t quite there.
10:23 AM BST
Encouraging start for British pair
A poor dive from the Canadians, which produced less than a ripple of applause from the knowledgeable crowd, has put the British pair into the silver medal position. Plenty of dives to go, but it is an encouraging start for Spendolini Siriex and Toulson.
10:23 AM BST
China are flying
They won the World Championships convincingly and they are in control already. Their superb dive in the second round gives a 14-point lead. Great Britain are currently in second place, with their Ukraine counterpart in third. Here are the standings after round two:
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China – 111.00
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Great Britain – 97.20
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Ukraine – 96.00
10:15 AM BST
‘Consistency from the British pair’
Amazing consistency from the British pair. Their second dive, a reverse dive pike, accrues them exactly the same score as their first. 48.60 again.
10:14 AM BST
After the first round of diving
Here’s how the scores look . . .
China, as expected are out in front with 56.40, Canada are second with 49.20 and Great Britain occupy third with 48.60.
Here come the British pair for their second dive.
10:13 AM BST
‘British pair face a tough challenge’
An indication of what the British pair are up against. The Chinese, doing the same back dive pike just picked up 56.40 points compared to the Brits’ 48.60. That is some challenge.
10:11 AM BST
Mexico are up next
Bronze medalits from Tokyo – Gaby Agundez and Alejandra Orozco are under way. They register a score of 47.40 with their first dive. The favourties China are up next and usurp Great Britain and Mexico with score of 56.40.
It is a positive start from hosts France who register a strong score of 47.40.]
10:06 AM BST
Strong start for GB
Andrea Spendolini Sirieix and Lois Toulson receive an amazing reception before they dive. Their opening dive will be a back dive in the pike position.
Spendolini Sirieix had a shaky start before they went but it is a strong start from the duo which will settle any nerves. They record a solid score of 48.60.
10:02 AM BST
Team GB up first
Team GB have just been introduced to the crowd – enter Andrea Spendolini Sirieix and Lois Toulson.
The British pair are up first in the women’s final.
09:58 AM BST
Spendolini-Sirieix’s accolades
World Championships
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2024: Team gold, 10m platform bronze, 10m synchro bronze (with Lois Toulson)
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2023: 10m synchro silver (with Lois Toulson)
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2022: Team bronze
European Championships
Olympic record
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Competed in her first Olympics record at Tokyo 2021, aged only 16, where she finished seventh in the 10m platform.
09:47 AM BST
The eight duos
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Chen Yuxi/Quan Hongchan (China)
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Delaney Schnell/Jess Parratto (USA)
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Andrea Spendolini Sirieix/Lois Toulson (Great Britain)
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Caeli McKay/Kate Miller (Canada)
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Gaby Agundez/Alejandra Orozco (Mexico)
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Kim Mi-Rae/Jo Jin-Mi (North Korea)
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Kseniia Bailo/Sofiia Lyskun (Ukraine)
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Jade Gillet/Emily Hallifax (France)
09:46 AM BST
Fred Sirieix arrives at the Aquatics Centre
The First Dates star is a surprise star of the BBC’s coverage of the Paris Games as his daughter Andrea goes for a medal.
09:36 AM BST
Who are Spendolini Sirieix and Toulson?
Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix
Reached the final aged 16 at the Tokyo Games and has since won World, European and Commonwealth golds.
The daughter of TV personality Fred Sirieix, of First Dates fame, Spendolini-Sirieix nearly walked away from the sport in 2022 after developing a fear of diving, but has since overcome that anxiety.
Lois Toulson
The 24-year-old is hoping to add a first Olympic medal to her collection of World, European and Commonwealth gongs in what will be her third Games in Paris. Her boyfriend, Jack Laugher, is also in the British diving team for Paris.
09:30 AM BST
Andrea Spendolini Sirieix and Lois Toulson bid for glory
Good morning and welcome to live coverage of the women’s synchroinzed 10m platform final.
Great Britain’s Andrea Spendolini Sirieix and Lois Toulson go into the final, looking to follow up Tom Daley and Noah Williams’ fine silver on Monday.
They are strong contenders after claiming bronze at this year’s World Championship and silver in 2023. Toulson finished a disappointing seventh in Tokyo three years ago when she was expected to improve on the fifth place in Rio 2016.
But Toulson goes into these Games in much better shape having achieved success at the recent world championship held over the past 18 months.
Their story is similar to that of Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jenson, who were paired together halfway through this Olympic cycle and immediately clicked with success at the world championships – medal win in Paris on Saturday.
However, they are up against the formidable Chinese pair of Quan Hongchan and Chan Yuxi, who are considered the most unbeatable of any Chinese divers in these Games – many consider them impossible to beat in Paris.
They have won the last three world championships and Chen is the defending champion from Tokyo Games, where she helped China secure sixth straight gold in this event.
Stay with us for all the coverage as Spendolini Sirieix and Toulson go for gold, with the action commencing at 10.00 (BST).
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