Monday, July 30, 2012

Duke's Nick McCrory wins diving bronze

Nick McCrory, who grew up in Chapel Hill and goes to Duke, won a bronze medal Monday in men's 10-meter synchronized diving along with partner David Boudia.

The Americans had their best score on the last of their six dives to hold onto third place, just ahead of a Great Britain pair that was being exhorted by the crowd in London.

The Chinese team finished first -- China is diving's dominant force -- and Mexico was second.

"This is incredible," McCrory said. "I don't think it has sunk in yet."

The Americans were third or fourth throughout the competition, never missing on any dive. Great Britain led the U.S. until the fourth dive, when the British duo flubbed a dive to the groans of the crowd.

It was the first medal at a world event for McCrory and Boudia. The U.S. came into these Olympics having not won a diving medal since 2000 in Sydney. Now they have won two in two days -- Abby Johnston, another Duke diver, was part of a silver-medal winning team in 3-meter synchronized diving Sunday.

"It's been a great two days," said Drew Johansen, who is Duke's head diving coach and also the head coach of the U.S. Olympic diving team.

McCrory and Boudia will compete against each other in about a week in the 10-meter platform diving individual competition.

Also on Monday, Davidson College's Caroline Queen did not advance to the next round of the women's whitewater kayaking competition.

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