Chen Aisen capped a golden Olympics for China in diving on Saturday, winning the men’s 10-metre platform for his country’s seventh gold in eight events on the final day of competition.
 The 20-year-old, already a winner in the 10m synchronised platform in Rio, scored 585.30 points after his six dives — breaking the 100-point mark for three of them to return the title to China for the first time since 2004
 It also saw China surpass their previous best from Beijing 2008 with seven gold, two silvers and a bronze to become the most successful nation in diving at a single Olympics in the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre.
 Mexico’s German Sanchez won silver (532.70) with American David Boudia, the gold medallist from London 2012, taking bronze (525.25).
 “I came here looking for two gold medals and I’ve achieved my dream,” said Chen, who led the way for five of the six dives. “I never thought I would get this medal for diving and I am still in a state of shock. Every athlete did really well and we all put in a lot of effort to come to the Olympics,” he added.
 Boudia, 27, had taken the lead after his second dive, but lost his grip on silver with his final forward four-and-a-half somersaults tuck. “It’s been a struggle and to miss a dive but still become a bronze medallist at the Olympics is extremely satisfying,” said the Texan.
 Boudia said he had found it difficult to prepare for his Olympic title defence after getting married and becoming a father.
 “Getting married, having a first child and having to defend the title and the pressures that comes with it isn’t easy,” said Boudia, who wins a fourth Olympic medal. “I want to thank my wife and family for all their support.”
 Sanchez becomes the first Mexican on the men’s platform podium since Alvaro Gaxiola’s silver at the 1968 Mexico City Games. “In this sport anything can happy,” said the 24-year-old Sanchez, who delivered a consistent performance on the night.
 It was his second Olympic medal after his men’s 10m platform synchro silver in London four years ago.
 Chen’s teammate Qiu Bo, a silver medallist behind Boudia in 2012 and a three-time world champion, dropped to sixth place after missing two of his dives.
 “It was my dream,” said a disappointed Qiu, 23. “I think (Chen won) because he didn’t really think a lot, so he performed well. We have all trained for so many years together, so I am happy for him.”
 “His example gave me the feeling that I have nothing to be upset about because it’s the Olympic Games and it’s either him or me who gets the gold medal. It’s all the same because we are all Chinese.”
 Sanchez and Boudia had qualified for the final in ninth and tenth respectively with Chen leading the semi-finals earlier Saturday.
 Tom Daley’s Olympic gold bid ended in heartbreak as the Briton finished a shocking last in the semi-finals behind Chen and Qiu. The 22-year-old Daley looked set to improve on his London 2012 bronze after finishing first in Friday’s preliminary round ahead of the Chinese.
 But Daley endured a rocky first three rounds and after failing to pull back in the remaining three he finished last of the 18 competitors, with the top 12 advancing to Saturday’s final.
 The only title China failed to win in Rio was the men’s synchronised 3m springboard where Britain’s Jack Laugher and Chris Mears took gold.
 In the men’s competition, Chen and Lin Yue also won the synchronised platform and Cao Yuan the 3m springboard.
 Their women sweep all their titles — Ren Qian, 15, taking the 10m platform; Shi Tingmao the 3m springboard; Chen Ruolin and Liu Huixia the synchronised platform; and Shi and Wu Minxia, the synchronised 3m springboard.

China blame ‘fierce’ competition after Rio flop
China blamed fierce competition for their Rio flop and promised to examine their “shortcomings” after slumping to their worst Olympic performance in 20 years. China sent 410 athletes, their biggest team at a foreign Olympics, but by the penultimate day they had won just 26 gold medals, their fewest since Atlanta 1996.
 Worse, China trailed not only the United States but also Britain on the medals table, a fact that has prompted splutterings of indignation in Chinese media.
 China topped the table in 2008 and were second in 2004 and 2012, but Chinese Olympic committee chief Liu Peng said rising standards had taken them by surprise.
 “There are a few problems we cannot overlook. In the Rio Games we didn’t win so many medals... we didn’t assess objectively the challenges we might face at these Games,” said Liu.
 “In recent years more countries have attached importance to the Olympic Games, so the level of play internationally has come up and the competition has become fierce.
 “We need to employ a new mentality and new understanding how to improve our performances and ability. We need more experiences and learning.”
 Liu said inexperience particularly had cost China, whose team was young with three-quarters of them competing at their first Olympics.
 “We have trained these athletes but the training isn’t enough,” he said. “Because when these athletes are facing fierce competition and challenges they have to too much to think about and too many mental burdens and they didn’t play at their highest level.”
 But he had warm words for swimmer Fu Yuanhui, whose bubbly personality and frank comments — rare for a Chinese athlete — won hearts at home and abroad.
 “Her happiness, starting from the bottom of her heart, fully demonstrated her spirit to continue to challenge herself and achieve excellence,” said Liu. “This is something that touched audiences on the very deepest level. Her ‘prehistoric strength’ as she put it fully demonstrated the modern Chinese athletes: they’re confident, they’re active and they’ve fully pushing forward.”
 Liu also praised China’s athletes for competing in the right spirit and not appearing desperate to win at all costs.
 “We have fully demonstrated our Chinese spirit. We’re not arrogant when we win, we don’t give up easily and we continue to strive forward,” he said.