Rio 2016: Tonia Couch 'wanted to cry' for 16-year-old synchronised partner Lois Toulson after fifth-placed finish

A personal best in the 10m synchronised diving was good enough only for fifth behind the impeccable Chinese

Tonia Couch and Lois Toulson in perfect symmetry (Getty)

Green water be damned, Tonia Couch and her 16-year-old synchronised partner, Lois Toulson, wouldn’t dive in anything else.

A personal best in the 10m synchronised diving was good enough only for fifth behind the impeccable Chinese, but after just eight months as a pair, Couch was in no doubt about the potential of the team and the talent of her partner, whom she described as ‘insane’.

“I'm so proud. When I was 16 I was coming last in all competitions. For her to come to the Olympic Games and nail the first two options. I wanted to cry there and then,” said 27-year-old Couch, contesting her third games.

“I've said to her so many times that people are going to have to watch out for this girl. She's insane and for a 16-year-old diver to do what she did today, people better watch out.”

Toulson was obviously ecstatic to have more than held her own in this environment.

“It was one of the best competitions I've done. I really enjoyed it and definitely got a lot of experience and we ended up getting a personal best.”

The colour of the water, a filthy, murky green has become the talking point of the competition but did not faze them one bit.

“It's so green. But, we got a personal best score, so maybe we should ask for a green pool from now on. I kind of liked it,” said Couch. “As the sun went down it looked worse. I couldn't see you (her) when I was underneath. I was like 'Lois, where are you?”

With one round of the five to go the British pair were in touching distance of bronze courtesy of a wretched effort from the Republic of North Korea.

It was the Canadian pair that grabbed destiny’s tale to stand on the rostrum alongside China and Malaysia. There is mystery in the judging of synchronicity that defies the reckoning of the eye.

At least in the award of 52.8 marks out of 60 for the Canadian pair of Meaghan Benfeito and Roseline Filion, second only to China in the first round of dives.

The standard was ridiculously high with the Chinese that bit more ridiculous than the rest, as was the case with their hypnotic brothers in the men’s event.