Olympic Diving Preview: Potential Upsets In Final Synchro Event

Jul 13, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, USA; Ian Matos and Cesar Castro of Brazil compete in the men's synchronised diving 3m springboard final the 2015 Pan Am Games at Pan Am Aquatics UTS Centre and Field House. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher/USA Today Sports Images

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By Erin Keaveny, Swimming World College Intern

On August 10, the fifth day of Olympic competition, the last synchronized diving event will take place. Chinese divers have taken home the gold from three of the last four Olympics and are hoping to win again, but the most sought after podium spot is far from theirs.

Chinese team members have made comments about feeling less sure in the men’s events. Qin Kai and Cao Yuan will be facing a serious obstacle if they want to keep the team’s golden streak. Their biggest roadblock comes in the form of Stephan Feck and Patrick Housing, the synchro team from Germany.

Feck and Housing finished on top in February at the 2016 FINA Diving World Cup, which took place in Rio. The Chinese team had to settle for silver, preventing them from sweeping the events as they have been able to do in the past. The German team will be attempting to block the Chinese from sweeping events a second time, just seven months later at the same pool. This time with Olympic medals on the line.

Britian’s Jack Laugher and Chris Mears are also in strong contention for a spot on the podium. They are coming off a win at the European Championships, and a fourth place finish at the World Cup. Russia’s Ilya Zakharov and Evgeny Kuznetsov will also be looking for podium finishes. The Russians have brought home three silver medals in the last four Olympics.

Americans Sam Dorman and Michael Hixon are not expected to finish in a medaling position.

The event will unfold at 3:00 pm ET, and will be aired at 12:35 am.

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