By Kara Tanner
TOKYO – The drought is over.
Krysta Palmer cemented her place in
diving history after winning a bronze medal in the women’s individual 3-meter
springboard, becoming the first American woman to win a medal in the event in
33 years.
The last time Team USA had a woman on
the 3-meter springboard podium was Kelly McCormick at the Olympic Games Seoul
1988, where she won bronze.
“Wow,” said Palmer when she found out
the news. “You know we have really strong springboard divers in the USA right
now, and if it wasn’t me, it could’ve been one of them. So carrying that level
to the international stage has been exciting…it’s exciting to just make a
little more history.”
Tonight, Palmer’s consistency and
ability to stay focused won her the bronze medal. But she also doesn’t shy away
from a challenge.
“I think adding my 5154 (forward 2½
somersaults, 2 twists in the pike position), my last dive with high difficulty,
that really helps me gain a little bit of the edge,” said Palmer. “That’s my
favorite dive.”
Whether she had won a medal or not,
there’s no doubt Palmer would have been walking away with a smile.
“I’m just proud of my list today, and
I knew that if I came away with a medal or if I didn’t, I would still be proud
of myself for how I handled the nerves.”
And it was no surprise to see Shi
Tingmao of China atop the podium. She’s been dominating the springboard diving
world over the past decade. And she did not disappoint today, finishing an
incredible 34.75 points ahead of the competition.
“These divers I look up to so much,”
said Palmer of the competition. “I’m proud of them. They’re so consistent. They
have a lot of pressure, and I think they handle it really well. They’re great
competitors to train alongside and compete alongside.”
Shi won the women’s 3-meter
synchronized gold just days earlier with partner Wang Han, who finished with
the silver medal in today’s individual event. Shi scored a whopping 383.5
points, and Wang with a final score of 348.75.
A former gymnast and trampoline
athlete, Palmer turned to diving after injuries threatened to end her athletic
career.
“There was a moment in time when I
thought my athletic career was over,” said Palmer. “Sometime after that, I met
my coach and she said, ‘Come into my club team, just have fun.’ And so that’s
really how my journey began.”
Palmer’s coach Jian Li You is the
head coach at the University of Nevada Reno and a former Chinese diver.
Considered one of top coaches in the U.S., You has mentored past Olympic divers
such as Becky Ruehl, Mary Ellen Clark, Scott Donie and Dave Pichler.
“She really took a lot of my
trampoline background that I had and transformed me into the diver I am today.”
When Palmer realized she was going to
medal, You was the first person she turned to.
“I think the moment I realized I ran
over to my coach, and I was like I have to be next to her,” said Palmer. “I
have to give her a big hug because I did not do this alone. I did it with her,
and with all her help, too.”
Also making her mark on the diving
world is Hailey Hernandez.
At just 18 years old, Hernandez is
the youngest female American diver in Tokyo and the youngest in the women’s
3-meter springboard final. But you would never be able to tell watching her
dive.
On the springboard, Hernandez looks
like a seasoned vet. Even while competing on the world’s biggest stage, she is
calm, cool and collected.
“Going into the meets, I’m just
trying to have as much fun as possible,” said Hernandez.
And consistency is the name of
Hernandez’s game. She did not faulter on any of her final dives, but the
competition was stiff. Hernandez finished ninth with a final score of 288.45.
“I know that going out there I just
want to do the best list for me,” said Hernandez. “If I do that, then I know
I’ll come out successful and happy. So, I try not to not really worry about
what everyone else is doing.”
Although Hernandez is going home
without a medal, she’s not going home empty-handed. This Games provided her
with great learning experience on the international stage.
“I’ve learned so much, got so much
experience and grown as an athlete,” said Hernandez. “Being able to come out
here and compete on the Olympic stage, against the best divers in the world,
has just been incredible.”
Hernandez has a busy few weeks ahead
as she prepares to start her freshman year of college at the University of
Texas at Austin where she will continue her diving career.
“Hailey is young, and she’s got some
special talent that kid,” said Palmer. “I’m just proud of how she handled
herself through it all. She’s mature, and I think when it comes to these
international competitions it’s amazing to see how mature she is competitively
and as a young girl.”
At 29, Palmer says she isn’t sure
what the future holds right now.
“I feel like I’ve got to soak this
in, then go home and make a decision,” said Palmer. “I really don’t feel that
I’m at my peak, and I have always told myself I’ll stop when I reach my peak or
I stop having fun, and none of those have really come to end. So, you might see
me sticking it out for a little bit.”
Men’s 3-meter springboard competition
begins tomorrow where Andrew Capobianco will attempt to earn his second medal
of the Tokyo Games and U.S. Olympic Trials winner Tyler Downs will make his
Olympic debut.
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