People divided over 'awkward' moment on Olympic podium between US and Chinese medal winners

Despite Team USA picking up yet another medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics, there was a little bit of drama following it.

If you had tuned into the women's synchronized 3m springboard finals today, you might have seen a slightly 'awkward' moment.

It happened between silver-medalists US Olympians Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook, and China's gold-winning Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen.

Team USA, Team GB and China came up on top for the women's synchronized 3m springboard finals. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

After the six women found out they would be going home with a medal, they were then asked to get a group photo where they would all stand on the one podium.

After the UK's athletes, who had picked up bronze for Team GB, had already moved onto the first place podium alongside winners Yani and Yiwen, Cook and Bacon went to move onto it.

The British and Chinese Olympians were stood at the back of the stand, so obviously the only place for Team USA to go was crouched at the bottom.

But as they proceeded to do so, Yani and Yiwen stopped them in their tracks and allowed Cook and Bacon to stand while they sat at the front of the podium. You can see it here:

Taking to Twitter following the awkward moment, one user posted: "Slight awkward moment there between China and US as to who should be in the middle of podium for photo..

"Chinese social media said 'the chinese girls were very kind as they know foreigners can’t squat'."

While I don't think there are sides to take as it ended amicably - not that there was ever any fisticuffs - the post still managed to have completely divided people on social media from all around the globe.

One user commented: "The Chinese athletes are simply generous. They sit down to avoid demonstrating their superiority. that is true sportsmanship."

And another person likened his sentiment, adding: "Chinese athletes are very well educated."

Silver medalists Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook of Team USA got into a slightly awkward moment with Chinese gold medallists Yani Chang and Yiwen Chen, moments before this shot. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Then there was the other side of the internet, who slated the US for simply moving to the only position on the podium - it is bizarre why they were all asked to share it to begin with!

One wrote: "Chinese won gold and they deserve to be outstanding in the middle. Manners."

And it didn't end there, as somebody pointed out that the athletes aren't 'polluted' by politics.

They said: "Before jumping to conclusions just remind yourself that they’re just teens without any pollution of politicians’ work."

So what do you think, were any of the Olympians in the wrong?

Team USA's current medal count - 27

Gold medalists

• Lee Kiefer: Fencing - Women's individual foil
• Torri Huske: Swimming - Women's 100m butterfly
• Jack Alexj, Chris Guiliano, Hunter Armstrong, Caeleb Dressel, Ryan Held, Matt King: Swimming - Men's 4x100m freestyle
• Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, Hezly Rivera: Artistic Gymnastics - Women's team competition

Silver medalists

• Nic Fink: Swimming - Men's 100m breaststroke
• Lauren Scruggs: Fencing - Women's individual foil
• Gretchen Walsh: Swimming - Women's 100m butterfly
• Haley Batten: Mountain Bike - Women's cross country
• Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh. Torri Huske, Simone Manuel, Erika Connolly, Abbey Weitzel: Swimming - Women's 4x100m freestyle
• Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook: Diving - Women's springboard 3m synchronised
• Katie Grimes: Swimming - Women's 400m individual medley
• Jagger Eaton: Skateboarding - Men's street
• Regan Smith: Swimming - Women's 100m backstroke
• Bobby Finke: Swimming - Men's 800m freestyle
• Carson Foster, Brooks Curry, Chris Guiliano, Luke Hobson, Drew Kibler, Blake Pieroni, Kieran Smith: Swimming - Men, 4x200m freestyle
• Perris Benegas: Cycling - Women's BMX freestyle

Bronze medalists

• Carson Foster: Swimming - Men's 400m individual medley
• Katie Ledecky: Swimming - Women's 400m freestyle
• Chloe Dygert: Cycling - Women's individual time trial
• Frederick Richard, Brody Malone, Stephen Nedoroscik, Paul Juda, Asher Hong: Artistic Gymnastics - Men's team competition
• Nick Itkin: Fencing - Men's foil individual
• Emma Weyant: Swimming - Women's 400m individual medley
• Ryan Murphy: Swimming - Men's 100m backstroke
• Luke Hobson: Swimming - Men's 200m freestyle
• Nyjah Huston: Skateboarding - Men's street
• Ilona Maher, Kayla Canett, Lauren Doyle, Alev Kelter, Kristi Kirshe, Sarah Levy, Alena Olsen, Ariana Ramsey, Steph Rovetti, Alex Sedrick, Sammy Sullivan, Naya Tapper: Rugby 7s - Women's team competition
• Katharine Berkoff: Swimming - Women's 100m backstroke