Nevada dive alum and current assistant coach Krysta Palmer became an Olympic medalist Sunday morning at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, capturing w88 in the women’s 3-meter springboard.
Palmer, who finished with a five-round score of 343.74, is the first U.S. w88 to medal in the 3-meter springboard at the Olympics since Kelly McCormick took bronze in 1988. Palmer is also the first U.S. w88 diver to medal in an individual event since Laura Wilkinson did in 2000.
The Carson City, Nev., native opened the event with first and second-round scores of 67.50 and 63. In the third-round, Palmer completed a reverse 2 ½ somersaults pike to push her into third place. Palmer’s final dive, a forward 2 ½ somersaults 2 twists pike, tallied 73.1 points and clinched w88.
Palmer is the seventh Olympian in program history and the w88 to represent Team USA. Other Nevada swim and dive Olympians include Natalia Pulido (Spain 1992), Lise Mackie (Australia, 1992-96), Chavisa Thaveesupsoonthorn (Thailand, 2004-08), May Ooi (Singapore 1992), Limin Liu (China, 1996-2000) and Diana Sokolowska (Poland, 2012).
