China on track for clean sweep in diving

The world champions, who were diving together for the first time at an Olympic Games, won by a wide margin, producing near perfect execution and synchronisation scores over six dives.

"We did really well in our performance today, very stable. We did our best, but I don't think it was perfect. It was like a dream,” said Lin. "The only thing on my mind is that I have to do all I can do for my family to thank them for supporting me.”

Steele Johnson and David Boudia from the United States won silver, with Great Britain’s Tom Daley and Daniel Goodfellow taking bronze.

Johnson was elated after finishing on the podium: ”It feels like a dream. The last dive is the dive I struggle with and I was so happy with how it went. Walking away with my first silver medal is beyond whatever I thought I might be able to do.”

Boudia added: ”Now I have the whole spectrum — gold, silver and bronze. I was bronze in 2012 but this one is so much more special as I could share it with someone like Steele, someone I have grown up with diving and he's a true brother.”

Britain’s Goodfellow was happy with his Olympic debut: "I was really nervous as this is my first Olympic Games and I didn't know what to expect but I've dived in this pool in the world cup and done well. We kept our nerve.”

Daley added: "When we got together in October we thought we would get a qualifying spot in the 10 metre synchronised for Britain and see what happens. Then we dived at the world cup and got the bronze and we were winning medals in the world series. We haven't done a competition where we haven't won a medal."