Chen, Wang dominant in China's third diving gold
World champions Chen Ruolin and Wang Hao won the women's 10m synchro platform to give dominant China their third diving gold medal at the London Olympics on Tuesday. Chen, the individual 10m platform champion from the Beijing Games and the synchronised 10m platform champion, teamed with Wang to tally 368.40 points from their five dives off the tower. Mexico's Paola Espinosa Sanchez and Alejandra Orozco Loza took the silver with 343.32 with Canada's Meaghan Benfeito and Roseline Filion getting the bronze medal with 337.62. China continued their march towards winning an unprecedented eight Olympic gold medals in London following Wu Minxia and He Zi's win in the women's synchronised 3m springboard and Cao Yuan and Zhang Yanquan taking the men's 10m synchro platform gold. "We both performed very well in terms of our technique and we have been together for two years. We have been practising very hard in Jinan," Ruo said. "I didn't feel that nervous. I was very calm. I just performed as I trained." Chen and Wang trailed in third place behind Great Britain and Canada after the first round of five dives, but gradually asserted their dominance with a series of masterful dives. Wang said her struggle over the last year to control her weight after knee and eye injuries had now proved all worthwhile. "I was injured before the Olympics but I am getting better because I have been losing weight," Wang said. "In the beginning it was difficult for me to recover and get back to my best condition and after 2009 my focus was to control my weight and I had to do it strictly. "Looking back I am thankful that I didn't give up my diet and thank all the people who have helped me achieve my goal." Chen and Wang got 81.00 for their forward 3.5 somersault on their third dive followed by 89.28 for an inward 3.5 somersault and sealed the gold medal with a closing 88.32 for a back 2.5 somersault with 1.5 twists. Mexico vaulted from seventh to second with a precision inward 3.5 somersault dive in the third round that netted them 84.48 points and closed out with a 75.24 for a back 3.5 somersault and 81.60 for a back 2.5 somersault with 1.5 twists. Espinosa Sanchez, a bronze medallist in the event from Beijing, celebrated her 26th birthday in fine style with the silver medal. "I really think that this was the best gift that Alejandra (Orozco Loza) could have given me. This was the best birthday present ever," she said.
