Abby Johnston, a 2013 graduate of Duke and a silver medalist in the women’s synchronized 3-meter springboard at the 2012 London Olympics, qualified for the World Cup by pairing with Laura Ryan to win the synchronized 3-meter event in April at the USA Diving World Cup Synchronized Diving Trials. That competition was the first for Johnston on the 3-meter board since she captured the silver medal with fellow American Kelci Bryant in London.
Johnston made her return to international diving in May at the FINA Mexico Grand Prix, teaming with Ryan to place bronze on the 3-meter with a score of 284.70. The duo will take to the 3-meter board in the World Cup preliminaries Wednesday, July 16 at 10 a.m. local time, with the final scheduled for later that afternoon.
Johnston will be joined in Shanghai by former Duke and Team USA teammate Nick McCrory, who is coming off of winning his record fourth national title in men’s platform diving at the 2014 NCAA Championship. The Chapel Hill, N.C., native will return to international competition for the first time since claiming a bronze medal in men’s synchronized platform diving along with David Boudia at the 2012 Olympic Games. McCrory is slated to compete in the individual 3-meter event in China for the first time in his senior international career beginning Friday, July 18 at 2 p.m. local time. The last time he dove the 3-meter event in an international meet was back in 2006, when he won silver at the Junior World Championships.
The FINA World Cup represents the top international meet of the 2014 season and is the last major world competition leading up to Olympic qualifying events next summer.
Universal Sports will offer daily delayed television coverage of the FINA Diving World Cup at 8 p.m. ET July 16-20. Coverage will also be available on universalsports.com.
Diving News / Swimming News courtesy of Duke Swimming & Diving.