CHINESE diver Wu Minxia made history by claiming her fifth Olympic gold medal when she and partner Shi Tingmao won the women’s 3m springboard synchronized event Sunday at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Center.

    “As we competed outdoors, there are a lot of uncertainties and a lot of difficulty, but the two of us were determined and cooperated well with each other, then we made it happen,” said Wu.

    Wu and Shi lead throughout the competition and collected 345.60 points from five dives to win the title, 31.77 points ahead of silver medalists Tania Cagnotto and Francesca Dallape from Italy. Australia’s Maddison Keeney and Anabelle Smith won the bronze medal.

    “I hope I can tune up to my best form and I am looking forward to perfection on my competition day,” Wu expressed her wishes a week ago when she just arrived at Rio.

    When her dream came true, Wu looked quite calm and enjoyed the historic moment peacefully.

    The 30-year-old Wu now joins gymnast Zou Kai as China’s most successful Olympian, having surpassed the feat of her former partner Guo Jingjing, who collected four Olympic gold medals in her career.

    But Wu still paid tribute to Guo, who was dubbed the “Diving Queen.”

    “Guo helped me a lot both in diving and in life. She will always be my sister no matter how successful I am,” she said.

    She also became the oldest woman to win an Olympic diving medal, overtaking American Micki King, who was 28 when she won the springboard title in 1972.

    Wu said her diving career ends now and that she has no regrets. “It’s been hard for many years for me, and I’m really tired,” said Wu, who has been fighting with fatigue and injuries.

    Chinese diving team leader Zhou Jihong said few people could imagine how dedicated Wu has been.

    “I might have given up if I knew it was so difficult,” said Wu.

    When asked about if she would retire after Rio 2016, Wu said “I will relax a little bit. I also want to study something that I am really interested in after finishing my athletics career.”

    Wu won the 3m synchronized springboard in 2004 and 2008 with Guo, and in 2012 with He Zi. Wu’s other gold came in the London 2012 3m individual springboard.

    She also owns silver and bronze in individual 3-meter from the 2004 Athens Games and 2008 Beijing Games.

    (Xinhua)