Chinese diving athletes Wu Minxia (L) and Shi Tingmao celebrate after the final of women's SYNC.3M Springboard in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 7, 2016. Wu Minxia and Shi Tingmao won the gold medal with 345.60.(Xinhua/Cao Can)
Chinese diver Wu Minxia made history by claiming her fifth Olympic gold medal when she and partner Shi Tingmao won the women's 3m springboard synchronized event on Sunday at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre.
"As we competed outdoors, there are a lot of uncertainties and a lot of difficulty, but the two of us were determined and cooperated well with each other, then we made it happen," said Wu.
Wu and Shi lead throughout the competition and collected 345.60 points from five dives to win the title, 31.77 points ahead of silver medalists Tania Cagnotto and Francesca Dallape from Italy. Australia's Maddison Keeney and Anabelle Smith won the bronze medal.
"I hope I can tune up to my best form and I am looking forward to perfection on my competition day," Wu expressed her wishes a week ago when she just arrived at Rio.
When her dream came true, Wu looked quite calm and enjoyed the historic moment peacefully.
The 30-year-old Wu now joins gymnast Zou Kai as China's most successful Olympian, having surpassed the feat of her former partner Guo Jingjing, who collected four Olympic gold medals in her career.
But Wu still paid tribute to Guo, who was dubbed the "Diving Queen".
"Guo helped me a lot both in diving and in life. She will always be my sister no matter how successful I am," she said.
When asked about if she would retire after Rio 2016, Wu said "I will relax a little bit. I also want to study something that I am really interested in after my finishing my athletics career."
