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Great Britain’s Jack Laugher claimed the silver medal with a score of 523.85 points beating Germany’s Patrick Hausding 498.90 points.
This silver medal adds to the bronze Laugher won at last years World Aquatics Championships in Kazan. While he also won silver in the 3m springboard at the London 2016 European Championships and gold in the 3m springboard synchro.
It also is a big moment for the whole Team GB squad as it brings up their 50th medal at the Rio Olympic Games. Making Rio Team GB’s most successful ever away Games beating the previous best of 48 in Beijing.
The Team GB diver struggled to qualify for the final after finishing in 12th, the final qualifying position. He improved hugely in the final producing great dive after great dive with prospect for a gold.
China’s Cao Yuan ultimately ended up taking the gold with 547.60 with GB’s Jack Laugher finishing behind in second. Laugher was in the lead before Yuan’s final dive. But the Chinese athlete perfected the forward 4 ½ somersault tuck taking the gold.
“I always knew I could medal at these Olympic Games. I have been rising each year but obviously doing it is a completely different story,” Laugher told BBC Sport.
“I had luck on my side and I was in that final. That was when I could really let loose, there was no pressure, no nerves.”
Jack Laugher and his 3m synchronised partner Chris Mears beat Cao Yuan and his partner Kai Qin to claim gold last week. Agonisingly, this time it was the Chinese athlete who came out the better second time around. Leading throughout and winning by a huge margin to give China their fifth diving title.
Yorkshire man Laugher became the first British diver to win a diving gold medal at the Olympics together with Chris Mears last week. The 21-year-old has now become the first British diver to win two medals at a single Olympics. Also being the first to win any medal in the individual 3m springboard.
