US Wins First-Ever Olympic Synchronized Diving Medal

LONDON – The drought has ended. Kelci Bryant (Chatham, Ill.) and Abby Johnston (Upper Arlington, Ohio) won the Olympic silver medal in women’s synchronized 3-meter Sunday, giving the United States its first Olympic diving medal since 2000 and its first ever in a synchronized diving event.

Bryant and Johnston scored 321.90 points to finish second behind China’s Wu Minxia and He Zi, who finished with 346.20 points. Canada’s Emilie Heymans and Jennifer Abel won the bronze with 316.80 points.

“It’s incredible to have this silver medal. It’s a lifelong dream. Watching the U.S. flag go up was amazing,” said Johnston, a first-time Olympian. “I was smiling from ear to ear.”

Heading into the final round of dives, the U.S. held a 1.5-point lead over the Canadians and were 6.9 points ahead of the Italian pair of Tania Cagnotto and Francesca Dallape. No strangers to close competition, Bryant and Johnston, who earned their spot on the Olympic team by a narrow 42- hundredths of a point, closed out their list with 72 points on their back 2 ½ pike, clinching the first U.S. diving medal since Laura Wilkinson won platform gold in 2000.

“I wasn’t watching the scoreboard . I made that mistake in Beijing and put too much pressure on myself. Whether there’s a medal or not, I knew I had to hit my dive,” said Bryant, who finished fourth in synchronized 3-meter with former partner Ariel Rittenhouse at the 2008 Games.

“(Abby and I) have worked our butts off, and I’ll admit it – I was crying,” Bryant said.

The duo scored 70-plus points on their other two optional dives, earning 74.70 points on their front 2 ½ with a full twist and 70.20 points on their inward 2 ½. They moved into second place after round two after scoring 105 points on their two voluntary dives. They maintained their silver medal standing for the duration of the contest.

“I was pretty steady emotionally and just having fun and enjoying the moment,” Johnston said. “I had all the faith in the world that Kelci was going to hit her dives, and I know she had faith in me that I would hit mine.”

Olympic diving competition continues through August 11. Monday’s competition features David Boudia and Nick McCrory in the men’s synchronized 10-meter final.