Williams steps it up for sensational bronze in Platform finale

A historic Games for British diving was rounded out with a rollercoaster ride of emotions in the Men’s 10m Platform, as Noah Williams became only the third British diver in history to win multiple medals at a single Olympics.

Williams and Kyle Kothari had earlier in the day progressed through the Men’s 10m Platform semi-finals with a few nervous moments – Kothari bouncing back well from a dropped dive in the second round to qualify in sixth, while Williams just scrapped into the top-12 by a mere 0.25 points after faltering on a number of dives.

With the scores reset for the final, Williams led the dive order and had a chance to set the marker for his competitors to follow at the beginning of each round.

The Synchro silver medallist made good progress through the first three rounds to sit just outside medal places, with a slightly misplaced effort in the fourth round initially appearing to have then dented his medal challenge.

Stepping back up to the plate for his penultimate dive, Williams produced an exquisite Back 2½ Somersaults 2½ Twists Pike (5255B) to the tune of 93.60 points to take his cumulative tally above his semi-final total with a still dive to spare.

As athletes ahead of him faltered the door to a medal position was back ajar, and Williams closed in exceptional fashion as he landed a Forward 4½ Somersaults Tuck (109C) for 94.35 points and set a total of 497.35 for his competitors to chase.

When he needed it most! 🔥

Noah Williams pulls off an exquisite dive and he has a real chance of a medal in the men's 10m platform final. #BBCOlympics #Olympics #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/a01jJfJCsG

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 10, 2024

Watching each passing dive of the final round Williams’ medal became closer to a confirmed reality, with bronze mathematically secure with three divers to go as only eventual gold and silver medallists, Yuan Cao (CHN) and Rikuto Tamai (JPN), could break beyond the 500 point barrier.

Kothari, meanwhile, placed 11th on his Olympics debut having left everything out on the boards across the campaign. A consistent start saw the Dive London athlete put to rights the Reverse 3½ Somersaults Tuck (307C) that had caused him issues in the earlier competition rounds – ironically almost being his best individual dive score of the final on 81.60 points.

Below par dives in the fourth and fifth rounds ultimately responsible for Kothari’s fall in the finals standing, but having considered leaving the sport while injured three years ago his progression to the heights of an Olympic final is an achievement that should not go unrecognised.

Speaking to the media after being presented with only the fourth medal a British man has claimed in history of the Olympic event, Williams said:

“It’s literally a dream, obviously I said that last time for synchro, but individually doing it yourself and winning a medal is a whole new level and I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet.

“Nobody wants to qualify in 12th and sneak into the final but Jack [Laugher] in Rio did the same thing, and then you know when you are first I’m not their focussed on anyone else because I can only do what I can do, which for me worked great.

“One of my dives wasn’t amazing but overall I’m so happy and I couldn’t ask for more.”

Adding his insight on what was running through his mind ahead of his final dive, Williams continued:

“I was saying to myself ‘I don’t think I’ll get this chance again’. There are other Olympics, but being in the position I was close to medalling I just thought this is now or never, and luckily it was now I guess.

“It’s so special to be part of this team - getting a medal is great, but having people who love and care for you, support you through the whole competition and every day at training makes it all the more special to do it for them.”

And his thoughts on joining Tom Daley and Jack Laugher in the history books as a multi-medallist at a single games?

“It’s an honour but those two are different class,” said Noah.

“They are literally the greatest of GB diving and don’t get me wrong I’m so happy with how I’ve done and it’s a huge achievement but they are way above my class.”

Reflecting on his achievements as an Olympic finalist, Kothari commented:

“Made the final - qualified in sixth which I though was solid, and I put three steady rounds together to get thing underway in a good position. I said earlier I wasn’t going to leave anything back as be it fourth or 12th it’s the same to me because it’s just not a medal.

“I’m disappointed with how I performed, I think I just ran out of steam and was getting crazy cramps at the end of that but I’m proud I made a final at my first Olympics.”

A double European champion and Commonwealth medallist since his comeback from a major injury setback three years ago, Kothari was upbeat in the knowledge of how far he’s come, adding:

“Three years ago I was sat in an office with my leg in a boot and I wasn’t going to come back to the sport, and if wasn’t for the support and the team around me telling me ‘you’re going to regret it if you don’t give it a go’ I definitely wouldn’t of come back. If you’d have told me everything that’s happened from then to now there is no way I would believe you, being an Olympic finalist at Paris 2024 in the individual was beyond expectation so I’m sure in time I’ll look back on this fondly.

“We’re like a family in this diving team, me and Noah for example we actually became friends because I couldn’t get a train home so I crashed at his house when I was like 11 years old, and we’ve just stayed like brothers since – we’re so close and I’m immensely proud of him.”

Williams’ individual bronze adds to the clean sweep of synchro podiums - to which he was a part of in the opening week of the Games alongside Tom Daley – meaning Great Britain complete the diving programme at Paris 2024 with five medals, the greatest total achieved at a single Olympic.

You can find details of all past Paris 2024 diving reports and the upcoming aquatics action from Paris 2024 through our What’s On? Page.

Where can I watch?

The BBC will be covering the majority of the Games across BBC One and Two, the BBC Red Button and BBC iPlayer. You can find their coverage schedule by clicking here.

Discovery+/Eurosport will also be broadcasting every minute of the Olympic Games but these channels require a subscription fee.