Tom Daley and Matty Lee win gold in men’s synchronised 10m platform.
Tom Daley and Matty Lee won gold in the men’s synchronised 10m platform. The British divers were the only team to qualify for the finals of this event.
| Dates: July 23rd to August 8th, Tokyo time: BST +8 |
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Tom Daley’s lengthy quest for an Olympic gold medal came to an end with a stunning performance with Matty Lee in the men’s synchronised 10m platform event at Tokyo 2024.
In a nail-biting finish, the British duo stood by and watched Cao Yuan and Chen Aisen do their last dive, erupting into wild celebrations when it became apparent they had broken China’s golden hold on the event, which had lasted since 2000.
For Daley, who is now 27 years old, it is his first gold medal at an Olympic Games, and he cried with pleasure on the podium, while Lee, who is four years his younger, can think about gold for the first time.
“I still can’t believe what’s going on,” Daley said to Sport. “I was gone at that point, since we were going to be crowned Olympic winners. I was giggling uncontrollably.”
The duo dove flawlessly throughout, rising to the top of the scoreboard after four dives, before mastering anxiety and pressure in their last two performances.
The British duo’s overall score of 471.81 left China’s Cao and Chen with too much to accomplish, and when their tally of 470.58 showed on the big screen, Daley, Lee, their coaches, and a number of teammates were overcome with emotion.
A fantastic trip
Leon Taylor, a former Olympic silver medalist, said he was holding back tears while viewing “images that say a thousand words.”
On a morning when Britain’s Adam Peaty and Tom Pidcock won gold in swimming and mountain biking cross country, respectively, reporter Sam Quek said she had “goose bumps” when she saw Daley weep during the national anthem.
Lee, who came to London to train with Daley in 2018, deserves a lot of credit for how he handled the high-pressure scenario, but all eyes will now be on his partner, who has been a household name in Britain since his debut at the 2008 Olympics at the age of 14.
Following the loss of his father in 2011, his journey has been filled with emotion, with an outpouring of compassion on display.
Daley would say that one day he wanted to be “half the parent my father was to me,” and his Olympic gold came in his first Games after becoming a father to son Robbie, who is named after his father, in 2018.
Daley, who married Dustin Lance Black in 2017, claimed that being a parent provided him with “a new mindset” heading into the Tokyo Olympics.
And he proved it when, in 2012 and 2016, he upgraded bronze medals in the solo and synchronized 10m events to gold.
“I’ve been diving for almost 20 years and now got this around my neck,” Daley said.
“A lot of people would have written me off, but I’m in the greatest condition of my life, and with Matty’s help, we’ve had that unstoppable mindset this year, and it’s the first time I’ve ever thought like that.”
“I can’t believe what’s going on, and I never expected to be here in the first place.”
The wait for Daley has come to an end.
Daley’s victory is all the more heartbreaking given his uncertain future in the sport beyond his spot in the men’s competition for the 10m solo event later in the Games.
Given that he has previously won European, World, and Commonwealth golds, there is little more he can accomplish after 13 years at the top Olympic level and with a gold medal in his hands.
During his golden Olympic moment, his experience seemed to show through at crucial moments, but he subsequently said that he felt like he was “about to collapse” at times and praised Lee for “keeping everything together.”
Lee said, ” “It’s insane. I’m baffled by what occurred. It’s wonderful to be able to share my first Olympics with Tom and win a gold medal.”
An mistake by the Chinese couple on their fourth dive allowed Daley and Lee to take first place, with a score of 93.96 for back three-and-a-half somersaults at the same level.
After round five, a perfect tilt at their most difficult routine – a forward four-and-a-half somersault – kept them in front, but a faultless tilt at their most difficult routine – a forward four-and-a-half somersault – was graded at 101.01 for their final dive.
The brilliance of the last Chinese effort forced a brief pause for air before the Daley-Lee celebrations could break out, with the Russian Olympic Committee team in bronze medal position.
Daley, who was previously a source of fascination for a watching British public due to his delicate adolescent years, has stayed devoted and tenacious despite avoiding competitive scrutiny.
He’s spent half his life focused on Olympic cycles, and he’s carried a lot of pressure.
He finally gets his gold medal thanks to Lee’s unwavering assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Matty Lee and Tom Daley win gold?
Who won mens 10m diving?
The divers won the event.
How did Tom Daley win gold?
Tom Daley won gold in diving by scoring a total of 554.4 points in the 10m platform event.
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