Rio 2016: Athletes & organisers bemused by green diving pool

Green, not gold, was the color of the day at the Olympic diving venue.

Rio Olympics organisers say the green water is not a health risk, though they are at odds to explain why it happened. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire

Sure, China won its third consecutive gold medal on Tuesday, but the buzz was about the color of the water in the diving pool.

It was a murky green, in stark contrast to the pool’s previous day’s color and also that of the clear blue water in the second pool at the venue.

British diver Tom Daley tweeted a photo of the two pools next to each other and captioned it, “Ermmm...what happened?!”

Water quality has been a major issue surrounding the Rio Olympics, but in the ocean and lagoons, not the venue pools.

A statement from Rio 2016 organizers says water tests were conducted and there is no risk to athletes. Organizers say they’re investigating what caused the color change.

Tonia Couch and Lois Toulson joked they would be asking for a green pool in future after recording a personal best in finishing fifth in the women’s synchronised 10metres platform final.

The pool appeared to turn greener as the final wore on and reached a near-inevitable conclusion: victory for China, their third from three events at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre.

“It’s so green,” Couch said. “But we got a personal best score, so maybe we should ask for a green pool from now on. I kind of liked it.”

Couch and 16-year-old Toulson laughed off the darkening deep.

“I couldn’t see you when I was underneath. I was like ‘Lois?’” added Couch, motioning as if she was peering through the gloom.

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