Chen Ruolin (L) and Liu Huixia of China act during the women's synchronised 10m platform final of diving at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 9, 2016. Chen Ruolin and Liu Huixia won the gold medal. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)
China's Chen Ruolin has revealed that she almost quit diving before deciding to compete at the Rio 2016 Games, where she secured her fifth Olympic gold medal on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old teamed with Liu Huixia to win the women's synchronized 10m platform final at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre.
The pair finished just 9.66 points ahead of silver medallists Cheong Jun Hoong and Pamg Pandelela Rinong of Malaysia, with Canada's Meaghan Benfeito and Roseline Filion taking bronze, 17.82 points behind the winners.
"Over the past two years, I have struggled a lot and it has not been easy," Chen said. "I have even thought about quitting the sport altogether, but I'm still here.
"Diving has really taken a toll on my body. I had to go through a lot of conditioning to get back to how I felt before. And now, it's like all of the pressure is gone, and I'm very relieved."
Chen had words of praise for her partner Liu, an 18-year-old Olympic debutante.
"I think that she is doing very well, especially since this is her first Olympics," Chen said. "It's normal for her to be nervous, but she still did very well."
Chen has now won the Olympic synchronized 10m platform gold medal at three consecutive Olympic Games. She has also secured the past two Olympic 10m platform titles.
China have won each of the three diving finals so far at the Rio Games.
On Sunday Shi Tingmao and Wu Minxia took gold in the women's synchronized 3m springboard and on Monday Chen Aisen and Lin Yue secured the men's synchronized 10m platform title.
