Women's Diving: Ren Qian of China is Golden in 10-Meter Platform

The U.S. women missed the podium on Thursday

She stayed in the shadow of her elder countrywoman through the preliminary and semifinal, but reigning World Cup champion Ren Qian strung together a dominant list of dives in the women's individual 10m platform final Thursday in Rio to secure another diving gold medal for China.

On a clear, warm day with very little wind at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Center, 15-year-old Ren totaled 439.25 points for the top spot with 17-year-old Si Yajie, who placed first in both the preliminary and semifinal, taking silver right behind her with 419.40 points.

Canada's Meaghan Benfeito, who took bronze in the synchronized platform event last week, won another bronze with 389.20 points.

After clean, ripped entries on every attempt through the first two rounds, USA's Jessica Parratto miscalculated a number of dives in the final and finished with 334.60 points. The 22-year-old Olympic rookie placed third in the preliminary and second in the semifinal. She was in third place after the first two dives, but Parratto could not deliver when she needed it most.

Ren was the only diver to tally more than 90 points in a dive and she did it in each of her final three dives. She scored 94.05 on her third dive and 91.20 on each of her final dives to seal the gold.

Seven of the eight diving events in the Rio Games have now concluded with China taking gold in all but one. Jack Laugher and Chris Mears are the only thing, at this point, preventing China from sweeping the diving events after they took gold in the men's synchronized 3m springboard event last Wednesday.

China has now taken gold in the women's individual 10m platform at each of the past three Olympic Games.

The level of competition increased significantly in the final with plenty of ripped entries and higher scores making spots on the podium well earned.  

Copyright Rio2016
Contact Us