Tom Daley flops as Chinese divers lead the way into 10m platform final

Tom Daley’s Olympic gold bid ended Saturday as the Briton finished last in the 10 metres platform diving semi-finals dominated by Chinese duo Chen Aisen and Qiu Bo.

Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Agence France-Presse

Published: 1:15am, 21 Aug 2016

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Tom Daley’s Olympic gold bid ended Saturday as the Briton finished last in the 10 metres platform diving semi-finals dominated by Chinese duo Chen Aisen and Qiu Bo.

The 22-year-old Daley looked set to improve on his London 2012 bronze after finishing first in Friday’s preliminary round ahead of the Chinese pair.

Chen Aisen of China competes in the 10m platform semi-final on Saturday. Photo: AFP

But he endured a poor first three rounds at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre and after failing to pull back in the remaining three he finished last of the 18 competitors, with the top 12 advancing.

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Diving last, Daley scored just 47.25 with his third dive and his ‘firework’ dive – a reverse three and a half somersaults with tuck – scored 91.80, seven points less than Friday.

Daley needed to score better than 101.00 to go through but finished with only a score of 50.40 and a total of 403.25.

The judges watch China’s Qiu Bo as he competes in the semi-final of the men’s 10m platform competition in Rio de Janeiro. Photo: AP

Chen led with 559.90 points and Qiu was second with 504.70, to put China on course for a seventh gold of the diving competition.

American David Boudia, the London 2012 gold medallist, was 13th going into the final round, but advanced in 10th place.

China have won six of the seven completed events in Rio so far this week, with Jack Laugher and Chris Mears’ win in the synchronised 3m springboard event the exception.

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