For practitioners of a routine that is so repeatedly and so perfectly rehearsed, Chinese divers show more individual flair than their more reserved compatriots in other sports. Guo Jingjing, who has already successfully defended her 2004 synchronised 3m springboard gold and is looking to retake the individual title, is one of China’s most glamorous icons. Tian Liang, who took the title in the men’s category in Athens, is not here to defend it, speculation attributing his absence to official impatience at his flamboyant ways.

This week China swept all four synchronised golds — for men’s and women’s 3m springboard and 10m platform. Wang Feng and Qin Kai finished the job today in the men’s, making, as for the other three medals, China’s win a certainty from the very first dive.

Wang Xin and Chen Ruolin, who won the women’s 10m platform on Tuesday, are 4 feet, six inches tall. The two divers have the same pixie haircut. They were born within four months of each other in 1992. And they provided mirror reflections of each other to lay claim to the gold in synchronised 10m platform. Of course, in every non-individual competition, athletes depend on each other. Ask Phelps. On Monday, his pursuit of eight golds was kept alive by Jason Lezak. In the 4x100m relay, Lezak came from behind in the anchor leg to get the US team the gold medal.

But in synchronised diving, the two divers become one. Synchronised diving was included in the Olympics in 2000, reportedly to maximise the audiences diving brings. One can see why. Seen in slow-motion replay, the Chinese dives give the impression of double vision as the diving pairs somersault and twist and silently enter the water.

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