After disaster stuck for the other Australian pair of Anabelle Smith and Maddison Keeney, who were gold medal favourite, in their final dive, Qin and Sheehan knew they had a chance to take the gold.

"We gave each other confidence saying we got this and encouraged each other to do better," Qin said.

"I think in the middle of the competition, you are so unaware of what is happening with the other teams and are focused on yourself," Sheehan added.

Smith and Keeney scored zero points for failing to complete a Forward 2½ Somersaults 2 Twists, the highest degree of difficulty of their five dives. 

It had been a tough day for Qin and Sheehan with their opening dives keeping them out of medal contentions with execution being marked down on two dives.

However, a door opened up for both Australian teams after Canadian pair Jenifer Abel and Melissa Citrini-Beaulieu came unstuck in their fourth dive and opened the door for the gold. 

It had been a tough day on the springboard with the wind at the Aquatic Centre affecting the divers but Sheehan said it was a factor all competitors had to deal with.

"At the end of the day, I think everyone is in the same boat, everyone has to deal with the same conditions and it's all about who can deal with them the best and today that happened to be us," Sheehan added. 

The gold medal is the first for Australia had won gold in the event since Melbourne 2006.

Qin and Sheehan will be back out for the 1m Springboard Preliminary on Friday morning.Â