Before Andrew Capobianco’s final dive in the 3-meter springboard event at the U.S. Olympic Diving Trials on Sunday, you could hear a pin drop in the Allan Jones Aquatic Center.
Everyone in the facility seemingly held their breath as they watched Capobianco perform a dive that could send him to Paris.
And he didn’t disappoint.
Capobianco won the event with a cumulative score of 971.80. His former teammate at Indiana University, Carson Tyler, came in second with a score of 945.75. The top two divers in the event qualify for the Summer Games.
Having experienced Olympic glory in the 2020 Tokyo Games, Capobianco is no stranger to pressure and expectations. He won the silver medal in the 3-meter springboard synchronized event and placed 10th in the 3-meter springboard.
He was nearly speechless about heading to his second Olympic Games.
“I don’t really have any words to describe this,” Capobianco said. “I’m just trying to be in the moment and not really get too ahead of myself.”
Capobianco nearly qualified for the 3-meter synchronized springboard event but came up short by less than three points.
Tyler is the first American diver in 24 years to qualify for both the 10-meter platform and the 3-meter springboard competition. He is the third American diver to do so; Mark Ruiz (2000) and Greg Louganis (1976, 1984, 1988) are the other two.
“It feels amazing,” Tyler said when asked about making history. “It’s honestly crazy and doesn’t even sound real.”
During the competition, Capobianco’s father, Mike, was passionate the entire time, screaming, “Yes! Come on!” after every dive he witnessed his son make.
“He was the one who would wake me up at 5 a.m. and drive me an hour to the pool for my morning practices,” Capobianco said. “He would come with me all over the country for my meets. I’m just so thankful for him, and I’m excited for both of my parents to be with me in Paris.”
CARSON TYLER WINS: Carson Tyler wins 10-meter platform diving to make Paris Olympics at US Trials in Knoxville
Although Capobianco and Tyler will both represent Team USA, they’re still competing against each other. However, they said that before anything, they’re teammates and friends.
“It’s not like I’m walking around the pool thinking, ‘I definitely gotta beat Carson.’ I’m just trying to stay locked into my own zone,” Capobianco said. “I’m excited to bring him along with me for his first Olympics and help him in any way that I can. I’m ready to experience this with him. He’s my teammate, and we work really hard together.”
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Andrew Capobianco wins 3-meter springboard event at US Diving Trials
