World silver medalist David Boudia of the United States won the Olympic diving gold medal in the men's 10 meter platform on Saturday with a stunning final dive.
In a thrilling final that saw the top three divers go into the final round separated by just 0.15 points, Boudia produced three somersaults of perfection for gold in a total of 568.65 points.
World champion Qiu Bo of China was beaten into silver with 566.85, while local favorite Tom Daley had to settle for bronze with 556.95 despite leading in the last round.
Boudia confessed he didn't know how tight it was before his crucial last dive.
"If I had known the margin my heart would have been pounding and the pressure would have been building. I was so calm," he said.
"You always go into competition expecting to do your best. I knew I had the ability to be on top of the podium."
Daley, the 2009 world champion, put pressure on his American and Chinese rivals with a near-perfect penultimate dive.
They responded worthily, setting up the knife-edge final round.
Earlier in the competition, Daley was granted a re-dive after being distracted by flash photography.
"It's an Olympic medal," the Briton said. "An Olympic bronze medal is equal to a gold medal in any other competition."
He dedicated the achievement to his father, who lost a battle with cancer in May of last year.
"I really wish my dad was here to see me do that performance because we had such a long, tough journey together."
Qui, meanwhile, was visibly distraught after failing to take the gold.
"It's already happened and I cannot do anything but it is OK, I am still young and I will be back."
