Quan Hongchan’s Olympic Victory in Thrilling 10-Meter Platform
A tearful Quan Hongchan emerged victorious in a thrilling contest against her Chinese teammate Chen Yuxi, claiming her second consecutive women’s 10-meter platform Olympic title at the Paris Aquatics Centre on Tuesday. Quan Hongchan’s Olympic Victory captivated the audience, as she demonstrated both grace and determination throughout the competition.
The graceful 17-year-old Quan Hongchan Olympic Victory dazzled the judges with a perfect set of 10s following her sublime opening dive. Despite the early advantage, Chen Yuxi kept the pressure high with her own impressive dives, ensuring a closely-fought competition. However, Quan Hongchan Olympic Victory ultimately held her nerve and delivered a stunning final dive, earning the 76 points needed to secure gold.
Chen, who had to settle for silver as she did in Tokyo three years ago, pushed Quan to the limit throughout the competition. Meanwhile, North Korea’s Kim Mi-rae took the bronze medal but was not a contender for the top spot.
Quan Hongchan Olympic Victory : A Fierce Rivalry in the 10-Meter Platform
The two Chinese divers had recently won synchronized 10m platform gold together, but this time, it was all about individual glory. Despite the intense rivalry, Chen embraced her emotional teammate after Quan’s decisive final dive scored 81.60 points, ultimately sealing her victory.
Quan finished with a total of 425.60 points from five dives, while Chen closely followed with 420.70 points. Additionally, Kim scored 372.10 points to secure third place.
The Path to Victory
The crowd, including a large contingent of Chinese supporters, enthusiastically cheered for Quan throughout the event. She demonstrated remarkable composure, especially with her opening forward 3.5 somersault dive that barely made a ripple. Although she experienced a slight dip in her third dive, Quan’s final two dives under immense pressure showcased her steel core and impeccable technique.
Quan Hongchan’s Legacy and China’s Ambition
A national darling since her first Olympic gold at age 14, Quan Hongchan’s triumph in Paris further solidified her status as a diving star. Her win contributes to China’s ambitious goal of sweeping all eight diving golds at the Paris Olympics, with Quan securing the team’s fifth gold.
China’s Volleyball and Long Jump Efforts
In other Olympic events, China’s women’s volleyball team faced a heart-wrenching 3-2 quarter-final loss to Turkey. Despite a flawless pool stage, head coach Cai Bin’s team couldn’t maintain their momentum, ultimately losing in a gripping final set 15-12.
At the same time, at the Stade de France, Shiqi Xiong narrowly missed out on the women’s long jump final. Shiqi’s season-best leap of 6.58 meters placed her 13th out of 31 competitors, just shy of the 12th spot taken by France’s Hilary Captcha with a jump of 6.59 meters.