Jack Laugher and Chris Mears have won Great Britain's first ever Olympic diving gold medal. The pair produced a dazzling display in the men's synchronised 3m springboard to take the title in Rio with a total score of 454.32.
Jack, 21, and Chris, 23, broke down in tears inside the open-air Maria Lenk Aqautic Centre as their victory was confirmed by a faltering final dive by the Chinese team. Reigning champions Qin Kai and Cao Yuan had to settle for bronze medal behind US pair Sam Dorman and Mike Hixon - ending China’s hopes of a clean sweep of diving golds at the Games.
Jack Laugher and Chris Mears produced a dazzling display to take gold in Rio
All the finalists had faced typically British conditions at the open-air pool - but Jack and Chris remained focused on their Olympic dream.
"With the wind and the rain, it felt like English weather," said Yorkshires man Jack, who shares a home with Chris in Leeds. "We embraced it and we came out with a medal."
The pair were overcome with emotion as the results were announced
Britain's first ever Olympic diving gold was a particularly emotional victory for Chris. The Reading diver contracted the life-threatening Epstein Barr virus in 2009, and was only given a five per cent chance of survival.
He went on to make a full recovery, and finished fourth in the syncro at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
"After going through all that horrible experience, just making 2012 Olympics in London was enough for me. That was great," he told BBC Sport. "But we were in a different position at this Games. We kind of thought we could get gold, but to actually get it is just incredible."
Jack (left) and Chris won Britain's first ever diving gold medal
Jack and Chris' victory on Wednesday night helped lift Team GB’s medal total to 12, as Britain claimed another six medals on day five of the Olympics – in cycling, shooting, judo and gymnastics.
Kayaker Joe Clarke won gold in his event, while there were bronze medals for cyclist Chris Froome, shooter Steven Scott, judoka Sally Conway and gymnast Max Whitlock.
