It was the stuff of dreams, or at least dreams of many gay guys across the world when two diving pin-up boys Chris Mears and Jack Laugher won gold today at the Olympic Games in Rio.
It was Great Britain’s first Diving Olympic Gold Medal but it feels like the whole world was watching and barracking for the stunning pair.
The pair, put together at the London Olympics four years ago, produced a sparkling performance to take out the men’s synchronized 3m springboard, adding the Olympic title to their Commonwealth and European crowns.
The Britons scored a total of 454.32 to end China’s hopes of a clean sweep of diving golds at the Games.
Qin Kai and Cao Yuan had to settle for bronze (443.70) behind US pair Sam Dorman and Mike Hixon (450.21).
It also sets up both of them to be huge chances in the individual events later in the meet.
Chris Mears has declared himself not gay, but he loves his gay fans and continues to build a huge legion of gay supporters.
In October 2013 Laugher was interviewed and did a photoshoot for Gay Times, where although identifying himself as heterosexual, Laugher called for greater tolerance of gay athletes and revealed that he would be comfortable as an openly gay diver, saying: “Yeah definitely! Any sport you should be able to be openly gay in. I have quite a few gay friends, just from school and people I’ve met through diving and my journey. Everyone should feel comfortable to be gay and be who they are.”
Laugher, 21, and Mears, 23, broke down in tears inside the open-air Maria Lenk Aquatic Centre when their victory was confirmed by Qin and Cao’s faltering final dive.
“With the wind and the rain it felt like English weather out there,” said Yorkshireman Laugher to Britain’s Olympic Broadcaster BBC.
“We embraced it and we came out with a medal. We are really happy.”
The pair led the standings from the end of round three, showing remarkable composure to continue setting the pace and then execute a brilliant final dive under pressure.
Americans Dorman and Hixon, who were third to go in the last round, set up a tense podium battle with an event-high final dive of 98.04.
Mears and Laugher scored 91.20 with a forward four-and-a-half somersault with tuck, leaving China needing more than 93.84 to win.
Last Updated on Aug 11, 2016
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