China pair gold again(Diving Gold Medal)

Updated: 2008-08-10 16:47:16

(L-R) Julia Pakhalina and Anastasia Pozdnyakova, Guo Jingjing and Wu Minxia and Ditte Kotzian and Heike Fischer (Photo credit: Al Bello/Getty Images)

(L-R) Julia Pakhalina and Anastasia Pozdnyakova, Guo Jingjing and Wu Minxia and Ditte Kotzian and Heike Fischer (Photo credit: Al Bello/Getty Images)

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(BEIJING, August 10) -- China's "Golden Pair" Guo Jingjing and Wu Minxia claimed their second consecutive Olympic gold in Synchronized Women's 3m Springboard with a score of 343.50 on Sunday, August 10, at National Aquatics Center. Russians Julia Pakhalina and Anastasia Pozdnyakova finished second, while Ditte Kotzian and Heike Fischer of Germany finished third.

China was tied for first with Russia and the United States after the first dive, with a score of 52.80, then pulled ahead with three 10s on their second dive and never looked back. Their lead over Russia after an 81.90-point fourth dive was 17.37, making gold all but certain, and a score of 75.60 on the final dive sealed the deal.

Guo Jingjing and Wu Minxia pose with their gold medals. (Photo credit: Al Bello/Getty Images)

The Russian duo were locked into second place after their second dive, clinching silver with consistent scores on their third, fourth and fifth dives. Julia Pakhalina is a three-time Olympian and was the gold medalist in Sydney.

The battle for bronze was fierce, with Germany and the United States tied for third after the fourth dives. Germany earned the best fifth-dive score in the field, scoring a 76.50 that edged the US divers by 4.5 points and pushed the Germans onto the podium.

Individual Women's 3m Springboard begins on August 15 and concludes August 17.

Final standings of Synchronized Women's 3m Springboard

1. China -- Guo Jingjing and Wu Minxia, 343.50 points

2. Russia -- Julia Pakhalina and Anastasia Pozdnyakova, 323.61

3. Germany -- Ditte Kotzian and Heike Fischer, 318.90

4. United States -- Kelci Bryant and Ariel Rittenhouse, 314.40

5. Australia -- Briony Cole and Sharleen Stratton, 311.34

6. Italy -- Noemi Batki and Francesca Dallape, 296.70

7. Ukraine -- Mariya Voloshchenko and Anna Pysmenska, 293.10

8. Great Britain -- Tandi Gerrard and Harley Sage, 278.25