How Tom Daley and Matty Lee sent Team GB fans into a frenzy in Tokyo
There have been some amazing moments in the Tokyo Olympics, but I think that this was by far the best and most inspirational moment for Team GB so far. At 27 years of age, it was Tom Daley’s fourth Olympics and third time on the podium with a bronze medal in both Rio and London.
Matty Lee of Leeds, however, joined Team GB in Tokyo in what was his very first Olympics at the young age of 23. The breath taking dive that won Great Britain gold consisted of 4½ somersaults which the pair wonderfully perfected with only a moment hesitation and better still, the Team GB supporters and coaches were soon after sent into a frenzy as the unbelievable score of 93.96 was shown.
Now with a total of 471.81, and the Chinese close behind them, the only thing that was possible from the sidelines was hope. A spectacular dive by the talented Chinese duo sent every British mind and soul into silence whilst the judges muttered secretly be-* tween themselves.
It was a long tense wait and after what seemed like hours of expectation, finally, the Chinese’s total score was added up and publicised as 470.58! Good, but not quite enough to topple the British from the top of the podium.
The same process was repeated as the Russians delicately executed their dive, however a huge splash of water as they entered the pool dampened the Russians’ hopes of glory. Yet more worries were exposed as the Russians’ total of 439.92 was shown. Would it be enough to put up a fight for bronze?
As the last divers went, some small mistakes and a few tiny errors occurred, and the podium remained as it was. However, Mexico and Canada’s scores of 407 and 404 respectively were quite far away from troubling Russia. That was it. Great Britain had won gold in the men’s 10m synchronised platform.
“Unbelievable, it really is,” Matty Lee later said, a smile of pure joy spreading across his face as he added: “To achieve this, it’s been my dream.”
Tom Daley will be back in action in his individual event where he will be hoping to snatch another medal to add to his collection, but the Chinese will be back and as sharp as ever with one of their divers as the defending world champion.