All-American diver Lizzie Cui has qualified for the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, running from July 14-23.
Cui will represent her native country of New Zealand after taking part in a series of qualifiers in April and early May during the offseason. Cui will compete in the individual three-meter, synchronized three-meter, synchronized mixed three-meter (one male and one female), as well as the combined team event.
“This is a huge step for Lizzie in her quest for qualifying for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Lizzie has worked very hard toward her goals, and I’m very proud of her accomplishments and the success she is having on the international stage,” said head diving coach Doug Shaffer.
“Aside from the Olympic games, the 2017 World Championships are the pinnacle of competition for aquatic sports. It will be Lizzie’s second World Championships, and we have high goals for a successful competition.”
In April, Cui tallied a sixth-place finish on three-meter in the finals of the FINA Grand Prix in Gatineau, Canada, where over 20 countries were represented. Cui also competed in the three-meter synchronized event alongside New Zealand teammate Yu Quian, collecting a seventh-place finish.
Cui partnered with Tennessee’s Liam Stone in the three-meter mixed synchronized event, earning a bronze medal on the international stage.
Recently, Cui also took part in the 2017 FINA Grand Prix in San Juan, Puerto Rico, securing sixth overall on three-meter.
This season, Cui picked up career-highs on both springboards and platform. Cui also shattered the school record on three-meter at the SEC Championships with a score of 391.40 to earn silver for her performance.
News courtesy of LSU Athletics.