Platform, Women

The Chinese pair of Sang Xue and Li Na, the 2000 World Cup champion, led after both the qualifying and semi-finals. They were favored and already had a gold in Sydney, as they had won the synchronized platform. Little thought was given to America’s best, Laura Wilkinson, who had spent much of early 2000 in a cast, recovering from broken bones in her right foot. In the final, Li led after two dives, with Canada’s Anne Montminy, runner-up at 1998 Worlds, moving up to second place, while Sang dropped back to third. But both Li and Sang botched their third dive, and Wilkinson went into an unlikely lead, marginally ahead of Montminy and Li. Wilkinson again nailed her next-to-last dive but entered the final round only ¼-point ahead of Montminy and a few points in front of Li. All three had successful final dives, but Montminy’s had a DD of only 2.8 and she dropped back to the bronze medal spot, as Wilkinson won a shocking gold medal, with Li taking silver.

Wilkinson dove again on platform at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, but this would be her only Olympic medal. Montminy’s bronze was added to the silver she had won earlier in Sydney in synchro springboard.