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Chen Yuxi and Zhang Jiaqi of China compete during the women’s synchronised 10m platform final at Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Photo: Xinhua

Tokyo Olympics: teen divers Chen Yuxi, Zhang Jiaqi get China’s ‘Dream Team’ back on track with synchro 10m platform gold

  • The 15-year-old Chen – China’s youngest Olympian in Tokyo – and Zhang, 17, post a formidable score of 363.78 in Tuesday’s final
  • ‘We can feel the pressure because we are young. [But] we have nothing to lose. We are brave to face any challenges,’ Chen says

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Teen divers Chen Yuxi and Zhang Jiaqi won the second gold medal for the Chinese “Dream Team” – and an eighth overall for China at the Tokyo Games – with a formidable score of 363.78 in the women’s synchronised 10m platform on Tuesday.

The US came second through Jessica Parratto and Delaney Schnell, but finished more than 52 points behind on 310.8 at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. The Mexican pair of Gabriela Agundez and Alejandra Orozco won bronze with 299.7.

The 15-year-old Chen – China’s youngest Olympian in Tokyo – and Zhang, 17, extended China’s winning streak in the event to six Olympic Games.

Zhang Jiaqi and Chen Yuxi celebrate with their gold medals. Photo: Xinhua/Xu Chang

“We do have an advantage in our age. We are short and light, and this means that our [water] entry is better than the others,” Zhang said.

“Our weakness is we are inexperienced. They have much more experience, we only have one World Championships.”

It was a face-saving victory for China after their defeat by British pair Tom Daley and Matty Lee in the corresponding men’s event on Monday.

Chen Yuxi and Zhang Jiaqi celebrate with theirs coaches after winning the women’s synchronised 10m platform final. Photo: EPA

Daley and Lee beat favourites Cao Yuan and Chen Aisen by a close margin of 1.23 points, a result that also stopped the Chinese in their quest of sweeping all eight diving events.

Chen won the women’s 10m platform at the 2019 World Championships when Zhang lifted the synchronised title at the same event with another partner.

Chen Yuxi (right) and Zhang Jiaqi pose with the Chinese flag. Photo: Xinhua

They formed a new team at the beginning of the year and succeeded in most of their warm-up events leading up to the Games.

“Of course, we can feel the pressure because we are young,” Chen said. “[But] we have nothing to lose. We are brave to face any challenges.”

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