The British Olympic diving team celebrated their most successful Games yet, as Jack Laugher and Anthony Harding secured a bronze medal in a tightly contested men’s 3m springboard synchronised dive that came down to the final moments.
With individual events still to follow, Britain has already claimed four medals at the aquatics centre, with Laugher recognizing the mounting pressure after the early triumphs, which included a bronze for his girlfriend Lois Toulson in the synchronised 10-metre platform.
“I would never have heard the end of it if I hadn’t medaled and she did,” Laugher, 29, from Ripon, remarked. “This is Team GB’s best diving performance ever. We’ve achieved fantastic results. Four medals across four synchro events is incredible.”
Gold went to China’s Long Daoyi and Zongyuan Wang, who continued their country’s dominance in the diving arena, while Mexico’s Juan Manuel Celaya and Osmar Olvera took silver; however, the medal standings were contested until the very last dive.
Harding, 24, and Laugher, competing in his fourth Olympic Games with a collection of a gold, silver, and bronze medal, expressed their joy at making the podium. They had finished fifth at the recent world championships and were set to face the formidable duo of Long and Wang, who have won the last two world titles together.
The British duo chose to execute their most challenging dive in the fifth position instead of the customary sixth, aiming to alleviate pressure on Harding, who had been struggling to meet his partner’s high standards during practice.
“Anthony and I decided to finish with a dive we felt more comfortable with,” Laugher stated. “We usually save our hardest dive for last, but given the circumstances, we opted for something we could execute well. Although I typically excel in my dives, Anthony performed better today, and I’m immensely proud of his accomplishment.”
Harding expressed immense relief after a successful fifth dive that consisted of two-and-a-half somersaults with three twists from a forward position.
“It was incredibly challenging,” he shared. “My weights coach and I have put in so much effort to build strength. This dive is Jack’s strongest, so it was logical to place it there. I’m just thrilled that I delivered when it truly mattered.”
Laugher continued: “Tony executed it perfectly. Personally, for Lois and me, it’s a fantastic achievement. I understand how significant this is for her, and winning two medals between us is wonderful, with more events still to come.”
Wang had not faced defeat in any major international synchro event since 2019, although the Chinese team seemed somewhat vulnerable at times. Following their initial attempt – a back dive pike – Laugher reassured Harding with a pat on the back as they stood in fourth, trailing China, Italy, and the US.
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Laugher and Harding improved upon their second attempt and excelled again in their following dive, while the Chinese team exhibited an unusual stumble, unexpectedly losing points during their initial more difficult dive.
It was, however, the Mexicans who took advantage, momentarily leading after a superior performance compared to the British in the fifth dive that had caused Harding so much anxiety.
In the final round, the medal placements remained unresolved, and after a strong concluding dive, cheers erupted in the pool and from the crowd, where fellow diver Tom Daley was vocally supporting. Sadly, both the Chinese and Mexicans managed to secure their positions, keeping the British from the top of the podium in the end.
Laugher, who partnered with Harding after ending his collaboration with former partner Dan Goodfellow, following a disappointing seventh place in Tokyo, expressed hope in potentially challenging the Chinese in the future.
He remarked: “I did notice a slight wobble from them. We concentrate on our performance, focusing on ourselves rather than others. We can’t control what competitors do. However, I had an inkling they were experiencing a bit of struggle, especially considering how close Mexico was. They are definitely reachable, and I will dedicate myself daily to match their level.”
Harding expressed a desire to compete again in the next Olympics, but humorously added that securing the bronze meant he could justify an “early retirement.” “It’s just such a relief for me,” he concluded.
