BEIJING - Kelci Bryant (Chatham, Ill.) and Ariel Rittenhouse (Santa Cruz, Calif.) were in medal contention with one round to go, but ultimately finished fourth in the women’s synchronized 3-meter competition Sunday at the National Aquatics Center in Beijing.

China’s Guo Jingjing and Wu Minxia scored 343.50 points for gold, and Russia’s Julia Pakhalina and Anastasia Pozdnyakova were second at 323.61.

The bronze medal came down to the final two dives of the contest, as Germany’s Heike Fischer and Ditte Kotzian and the U.S. squad were tied for third heading into the final round and were the last two teams to dive. The Germans scored 76.50 points on their reverse 2 ½ pike, and the Americans followed with 72 points on their back 2 ½ pike to give Germany the bronze at 318.90 points. Bryant and Rittenhouse finished fourth with 314.40 points.

“We’re disappointed, but we’re young,” said Bryant, 19. “This is our first time at the Olympics. We could have done better, but we’ll come back in 2012.”

Bryant knew she and Rittenhouse were tied for third heading into the last round but didn’t tell her teammate, who prefers not to know where she is in the standings during a competition.

“I never look at the scores, and she never lets it out,” said Rittenhouse, 17. “It’s tough to be so close, but it makes us want to come back for more in 2012.”

Sunday marked the first time the U.S. had competed in women’s 3-meter synchro at the Olympic Games, having not qualified for the event in 2000 and 2004.

Diving competition continues Monday with David Boudia (Noblesville, Ind.) and Thomas Finchum (Indianapolis) in the men’s synchronized 10-meter contest.

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