Chen Yiwen (CHN) – gold, women’s 3m

“I was under a big amount of pressure but I just pretended that I wasn’t. I fought. I am satisfied with the performance. Compared to my training I could have done a little better, but to do that at the Olympic Games is good. It is a relief. It is not easy to win. I thought I’d cry after the last dive, but when I entered the water after the last dive, I was calm. So I didn’t cry. I am strong.” 

Maddison Keeney (AUS) silver, women’s 3m

I’ve been working really close with my psych for the last 10 years. I used to have a lot of trouble with my nerves in competition. I’ve been on all sides of results, from falling off the board to a lot of fourth places.  I don’t look [at the scoreboard between rounds] because I’m an overthinker. I literally hang on to one piece of information. I’ll just never stop thinking about it. [The silver] is everything.

Coming from the bottom of the barrel around 2020, 2021, missing out on Tokyo… it’s made me a better athlete. What made [missing Tokyo] a bit easier [was] knowing that I wasn’t going to be done. Even now, going to this, it’s a lot easier to dive knowing this isn’t the end of everything. I came into this Olympics just deeply happy internally, no matter what the outcome would be.”

“I feel like these girls [Chen and Chang] feel like my sisters. I’m really lucky to have a positive competitive relationship with them. When we all come together for competition, it makes it sweeter and a lot more fun, to compete against your friends. Being able to share this moment with two close friends, I’m very lucky.

Chang Yani (CHN) – bronze, women’s 3m 

Image Source: Chen Yiwen of Team People's Republic of China and Bronze Medalist, Chang Yani of Team People's Republic of China pose with their medals after the Diving medal ceremony for the Women's 3m Springboard Final on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 (Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

“I made a mistake in the first dive - it was a problem with my technique. After that mistake I knew I had to perform better and give it the best I had for the other rounds. I did that. My coaching team did a very good job supporting me after that first dive. They protected me. I need to perform better, but I don't think too much (better).”