INDIANAPOLIS — Abby Johnston (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Durham, N.C.) has been awarded a roster spot in the women’s individual 3-meter event for this summer’s FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia.
The roster addition was approved by USA Diving’s Committee for Competitive Excellence (CCE).
Johnston, a 2012 Olympic silver medalist, had already made the World Championships team on synchronized 3-meter and mixed synchronized 3-meter.
Johnston had intended to compete for an individual 3-meter spot at the individual World Championship Trials in Bloomington, Ind., from May 15-17 but was forced to withdraw due to injury.
Two spots on each individual event were available at the trials, although divers also needed to meet a minimum score of 870 points over three lists of dives to be selected on women’s 3-meter. Only Laura Ryan (Elk River, Minn./Athens, Ga.) met the required score, so only one spot was filled.
Because she was unable to compete at trials, Johnston petitioned the CCE for an opportunity to earn the unfilled spot.
Johnston performed three lists of dives before a panel of assessors at a team training camp in Iowa City, Iowa on June 13-14. She scored 976.15 points, well above the required score needed to make the team.
Following her performance at the training camp, the CCE approved Johnston’s petition to compete individually on 3-meter at the World Championships.
The World Championships are set for July 24-August 2. They are the first major opportunity for countries to earn quota spots for the 2016 Olympic Games.
Swimming news courtesy of USA Diving.