Divers Maddison Keeney and Anabelle Smith have been left heartbroken after falling short of their Olympic dream.
The pair were in position for a bronze medal on their final dive of the women’s synchronised 3m springboard final, and had a chance to grab silver, when Smith slipped as she launched and hit the side of the board.
The Aussie duo placed fifth, while Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen of China took home the gold medal.
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Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook of the USA secured silver, while Great Britain’s Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen claimed the bronze.
Instead of celebrating, the pair were left feeling disheartened.
“We’re disappointed, obviously. I made a pretty big mistake, when we were in a good position to medal, but that’s diving,” Smith said shortly after the dive.
“Sometimes you can’t control that, it’s just unlucky.”
Despite feeling uneasy, Smith reflected on the amazing partnership she has shared with Keeney over the past decade.
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“We’ve been doing synchro together for 10 years now, and been through lots of highs and lots of lows together. But it’s just sport and we are here for each other,” she said.
“We will continue to be. We’re going to reset and go again, we don’t stop.”
Keeney said “time heals all wounds” and is now looking ahead to her next event, the women’s 3m individual.
Wide World of Sports commentator Sam Fricker said it was Smith’s mistake on the final dive that saw them slip out of the medal positions.
“We’ve seen a slight mistake from Anabelle coming off the board,” Fricker said.
“I’m not entirely sure what happened there. They’ve just missed out on a medal.”
There were emotional scenes as Smith cried in the arms of her coach.
“It’s the heartbreak, isn’t it, of the Olympic Games,” said Mark Taylor on Nine’s coverage.
“You feel for Anabelle Smith. Matt Hill going over to console her, the coach. Ten points off the bronze medal there.
“They built it up so nicely. Just that final dive. Heartbreak for Anabelle Smith.”
Chang and Chen won gold with 337.68 points ahead of Bacon and Cook on 314.64 points and Harper and Mew Jenson on 302.28 points.
Keeney and Smith finished in fifth with 292.20 points.
