On Friday at the Paris Aquatics Centre, eight male pairs from eight nations will contest the last synchro event on the 2024 Olympic program before diving moves on to the individual events. See who’s competing and what’s at stake in men’s 3m synchro.
For the fourth time in four diving events in Paris, the People’s Republic of China is heavily favored to win gold when Long Daoyi, 21, and Wang Zongyuan, 22, step on the springboard to contest the men’s 3m synchro final on Friday. Long and Wang are the reigning two-time world champions. Wang also earned Olympic gold at the Tokyo 2020 Games with a different partner.
Similarly, Great Britain’s Jack Laugher, 29, won Olympic gold in 2016 Rio with a different British diver, but he and Anthony Harding, 24, are two-time world championship silver medalists (2022 and 2003) and should be a safe bet to be on the podium once again in Paris.
Bronze, however, is anyone’s game. Italy’s Lorenzo Marsaglia, 27, and Giovanni Tocci, 29, were runners-up to China at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar, five months ago. But France, Mexico, and Ukraine could also shake things up.
Worth noting: Great Britain and Mexico will execute the most difficult dive in the field: a forward 2½ somersault with 3 twists. It’s known as a 5156B and it carries a 3.9 degree of difficulty. The Brits plan to use it in round five (of six), but Mexico is saving it for last. If the standings are close with one dive remaining, Mexico’s Osmar Olvera Ibarra, 20, and Juan Manuel Celaya Hernandez, 25, could provide a wildly dramatic finish because Mexico will be the last team to dive.
Action begins at 11:00 local time. All six rounds should be completed within one hour.
After that, the individual diving gold medals will be contested and awarded as follows:
- Tuesday, 6 August – women’s 10m platform final
- Thursday, 8 August – men’s 3m springboard final
- Friday, 9 August – women’s 3m springboard final
- Saturday, 10 August – men’s 10m platform final