'What a legend': Aussie diver Melissa Wu creates Olympics history
Aussie diver Melissa Wu has finally won an individual Olympic medal after placing third in the 10m diving at the Tokyo Olympics.
Wu made her third Olympics final after pulling off a back two and a half somersault with a one and a half twist to score 70.40 in the semi-final and advance.
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The Aussie diver was battling for third position in the finals after the world watched on as Quan Hongchan completed two perfect dives, scoring all 10s, before one judge gave her 9.5 in the final dive.
With bronze up for grabs, Wu scored a remarkable 81.6 and secured her first individual medal at the Olympics.
The Aussie has been diving since the age of 14 at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and while she has picked up many medals, an individual award has evaded her.
Wu placed 6th in Beijing 2008, 4th in London 2012 and 5th in Rio 2016.
But in Tokyo, she finally picked up a well-deserved medal.
Focus and determination from Melissa Wu.
This dive could be the one to secure her a medal.#Tokyo2020 | https://t.co/MJoN6CCeew pic.twitter.com/4Te6dOFbX4— 7Olympics (@7olympics) August 5, 2021
Melissa Wu in the 10m platform at the Olympics:
Beijing 2008: 6th
London 2012: 4th
Rio 2016: 5th
And now in Tokyo...
She has a bronze medal!#Tokyo2020 | #7Olympics pic.twitter.com/a9kEjMtObd— 7Olympics (@7olympics) August 5, 2021
Congratulations Melissa Wu!!! Bronze medalist in her 4th Olympics.
— Duska Sulicich (@DuskaSulicich) August 5, 2021
Just in: Australia’s Melissa Wu has claimed bronze in the women’s 10m platform in diving. It’s her first individual medal at an #olympics after competing at every games since Beijing
— Andrew Brown (@AndrewBrownAU) August 5, 2021
Onya, Melissa Wu!! She's been representing Australia at the top level since the *2006 Commonwealth Games*. Many medals over the years, but an individual Olympic individual podium had eluded her...until today!! Three rounds of beautiful diving 🥉 #tokyo2020
— Cameron Pegg (@ghostwhowrites) August 5, 2021
Australia's Melissa Wu, who was in 3rd entering the final dive, just scored an 81.6. That means Schnell would need need a 93.5 to pass her, which means averaging a 9.7
— Brian Pedersen (@realBJP) August 5, 2021
Bronze for Melissa Wu but a golden performance in the final. Been throwing herself off that platform in major competitions since 2006 as a 14yo. #Tokyo2020
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) August 5, 2021
Melissa Wu finally gets her first individual Olympic medal, winning bronze in the women's 10m platform! Very happy for her after she came up just short in her past two campaigns.🥉 #Tokyo2020
— Alexander Grant (@AlexGrantOz) August 5, 2021
MELISSA WU SUPERSTAR!
WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!
A MAGNIFICENT BRONZE!#TokyoTogether— Ravi Nayyar (@ravirockks) August 5, 2021
Finally melissa wu made it to the podium for individual event 👏🏼
— 김리나⁷ ᴾᵀᴰ (@itserinmohd) August 5, 2021
Melissa Wu just made me smile so much. Wow. (After our lockdown news, being uplifted by her brilliant performance was something.)
— Duska Sulicich (@DuskaSulicich) August 5, 2021
CLUTCH DIVE FROM MELISSA WU! #Diving #AUS #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/IKT44OjSFo
— Tas Mavridis (@MavridisTas) August 5, 2021
Melissa Wu very likely has a medal!! BRILLIANT last dive!! #diving #Tokyo2020
— Davis Harrigan🦁 (@DeadlineDavis) August 5, 2021
Melissa Wu, what a legend!!! That's so awesome
— #Dan2k23 (@suthodan) August 5, 2021
So thrilled for Melissa Wu. Incredible to remain at the top of her sport for so long. Today's gold medalist was 16 months old when Wu competed at the Beijing games. https://t.co/zgZA0RJMO1
— Kate Jones (@Kate_Jones7) August 5, 2021
World stunned after Quan Hongchan's near perfect feat
During the finals, 14-year-old Quan produced one of the greatest diving performances ever witnessed.
Heading into her final dive, Quan had scored perfect 10s from every judge on two dives.
The 14-year-old became Olympic champion with the highest score ever of 466.20.
🇨🇳 Quan Hongchan, at 14-years-old, wins GOLD in the Women's Diving 10m Platform.
Three straight rounds with multiple perfect 10 scores.
Finished 41 points ahead of second place.
One of the best performances in Olympic diving history.#Tokyo2020 #Diving pic.twitter.com/vzPCaVw3KZ— Lukas Weese (@Weesesports) August 5, 2021
Chinese diver Yuxi Chen, 16, came in second to complete a one-two for China.
Watch 'Mind Games', the new series from Yahoo Sport Australia exploring the often brutal mental toil elite athletes go through in pursuit of greatness:
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