Olympic Diving: Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix and Lois Toulson of the British team snatch bronze

Britain had not won a medal in women’s diving at the Olympics for 64 years on Saturday. They have now won two in five days.

This couple arrived highly regarded, having won medals at the last two World Championships.

Toulson, from Huddersfield, is competing in his third Olympic Games at just 24 years old.

Spendolini-Sirieix, born in London to an Italian mother and French father – the star of TV show First Dates – was a national champion at 15 and competed in the last Olympics a week before receiving her GCSE results.

After a good start, a failed third dive seemed to have ended their medal chances, but with one dive to go they were fourth, 4.44 points ahead of the Canadian.

The British pair had the advantage of diving first throughout the competition and did their best to apply the pressure.

A score of 77.76 did just that and the Canadian duo faltered slightly, scoring 68.16 with their final dive, to finish four points behind at 299.22.

The victory was particularly sweet for Spendolini-Sirieix, who considered quitting the sport after admitting to struggling mentally after Tokyo.

“I had a lot of struggles with diving,” she said. “It was a love-hate relationship, but right now I have nothing but love for it.”

Chen Yuxi and Quan Hongchan, hot favourites as the reigning three-time world champions, were again superb to claim gold, continuing China’s streak of winning the event every time it has been contested since Sydney in 2000.

Behind them, North Korean pair Jo Jin Mi and Kim Mi Rae won their country’s second medal of the Games.