BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Over the course of the last three weeks, Indiana University divers past and present took part in three FINA Grand Prix diving events all across the world.
“The last three weeks have been a great step for IU on the international stage,” IU head diving coach Drew Johansen said. “With the Olympics only 10 months away, it is good to be out there and on the podium. Many of the judges at these events will be the Olympic judges and almost all of the competitors will be at the games. IU has developed an amazing international presence over the last few years and the Hoosier nation is known as a force to reckon with wherever we show up”.
FINA Grand Prix in Singapore
Diving for Team Egypt, former IU standout Emad Abdelatif posted international best scores at the FINA Grand Prix in Singapore.
Abdelatif posted a score of 363.0 in the preliminary round before totaling a mark of 372.0 in the semifinals, missing the finals by just 11 points. Abdelatif also won silver in the 3-meter synchronized dive with partner Mohamed Neuman.
FINA Grand Prix in Malaysia
Former IU diver Amy Cozad placed fifth in the women’s 10-meter platform, while IU alum Darian Schmidt took fifth in the men’s 3-meter for Team USA.
Cozad finished with 268.75 points for fifth in the women’s 10-meter final. Cozad performed extremely well in the semifinals, placing third in her semifinal to advance to the finals.
Schmidt advanced to his first international final and scored 341 points for fifth in the final. He was fourth in the preliminaries and advanced to the finals after placing third in his semifinal.
Abdelatif, diving for Team Egypt, finished fifth in the semifinals on the 3-meter and placed fifth in the finals of 3-meter synchronized.
FINA Grand Prix Gold Coast in Australia
Current Indiana diver Michael Hixon teamed with alum Darian Schmidt to win silver in men’s synchronized 3-meter, while IU diver Jessica Parratto paired with alumna Amy Cozad to earn bronze in the women’s synchronized 10-meter.
Cozad, Hixon and Schmidt also competed in Saturday’s individual final. Schmidt finished fifth and Hixon was sixth in the men’s 3-meter final, while Cozad placed fifth in the women’s 10-meter final.
Hixon and Schmidt paired for 376.74 points for silver in the synchronized 3-meter. In the individual 3-meter contest, Schmidt finished with 362.25 points for fifth, while Hixon was sixth at 359.30.
Parratto and Cozad finished strong in their final round to surpass the Australian team of Emily Meaney and Annarose Keating for bronze in the 10-meter synchronized, posting a final dive score of 64.32.
Swimming news courtesy of Indiana Swimming & Diving.