Chinese diver Ren Qian became the youngest gold medalist at the Rio Olympics after winning the women's 10m platform diving final on Thursday (Aug. 18).

Ren will be taking home the sixth diving gold medal for her country and made history by becoming the youngest gold medalist at the Olympic Games in Rio at the age of 15 years and 180 days, according to CNN.

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Born in China's Sichuan province in 2001, Ren won the shiny gold medal with a total score of 439.25 after five dives, beating her 17-year-old teammate Si Yajie (419.40) and Canada's Meaghan Benfeito (389.20) at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre.

"When I won I cried with joy," Ren told Xinhua, after becoming China's first Olympic medal winner born after 2000. "I want to thank my mother, my coaches and the rest of the team for helping me. I didn't perform by best in the heats and semifinals but I was able to keep cool when it mattered today, especially in my last three dives."

Ren also becomes the second youngest 10-meter platform champion since Fu Mingxia brought home gold from the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. Fu was only 13 years and 346 days at the time.

China were considered as favorites going in the event given their track record of winning the women's 10m platform diving competition in seven of the past nine Olympic Games.

China currently leads with six diving gold medals, two silver and one bronze medal. Great Britain is in second place (1-1-1), followed by USA (0-2-0), Italy (0-1-1), Malaysia (0-1-0), Canada (0-0-2), Australia and Germany (0-0-2).

China leads with six diving gold medals, two silver and one bronze, followed by Great Britain (1-1-1), United States ( 0-2-0), Italy (0-1-1), Malaysia (0-1-0), Canada (0-0-2), Australia and Germany (0-0-2).

TagsRen Qian, china, youngest gold medalist, Rio Olympics, Olympics, diving, 10m platform diving, Gold Medal