China's 14-year-old diver scores perfect 10s to win Olympic gold for flawless, splashless performance

Barely. A. Splash.

Lean Jinghui | August 06, 2021, 12:37 PM

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Quan Hongchan, a 14-year-old girl, left viewers speechless after a flawless diving performance in the women's 10m platform finals on Aug. 5 at the Tokyo Olympics.

https://twitter.com/yenanot/status/1423178788351840257

According to NBC Olympics, the teen scored perfect 10s in three out of her five dives, bringing her score up to 466.20 points and smashing the Olympic record of 447.70.

She won by a massive margin ahead of her teammate Chen Yuxi -- also just a teen -- who won silver with 425.40 points, and Australia's Melissa Wu, who clinched the bronze with 371.40 points.

Barely a ripple

Viewers watched with bated breath as Quan executed a complicated inward 3½ somersaults tuck, then a backward armstand with two somersaults and 1½ twists in the second and fourth rounds respectively.

Her stellar performance was met with resounding cheers from onlookers in the stands, including from Chinese diving gold medallists Shi Tingmao and Xie Siyi, as unanimous 10s flashed across the board, reported Reuters.

She is the youngest athlete from China's Olympic team, and the youngest to compete in the event.

Here's a video of Quan's perfect 10 dives:

Dedicates victory to mum

According to the Associated Press, Quan dedicated her victory to her mother, who is ill.

NBC reported that the teen had initially taken up the sport to support her mother, who requires year-long treatment.

Quan told reporters: “I want to make enough money to support her. I listen to my coach very carefully and follow his instructions very carefully.”

Quan's coach was also seen hugging her in joy after she completed the fifth dive and clinched the gold.

The win marks the fourth consecutive Olympics in which China has claimed the gold for all women's diving events.

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