June 18, 2007

ROME, Italy – Former Gamecock All-American Allison Brennan (Huntington Beach, Calif.) continues to gain ground on her quest for the 2008 Olympics as she claimed the silver medal on the 3-meter board and led Team USA at the Italian Grand Prix in Rome, Italy, June 15-17.

“This was a very important step for Allison and can put her in a very good position for pursuing the Gold at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China,” said head diving coach Todd Sherritt. “The international judges really like her diving and it is even more exciting that she is a Gamecock.”

Brennan, the 2006 U.S. national champion, scored 325.65 points for the silver medal and teammate Kelci Bryant (Chatham, Ill.) tallied 299.90 points for the bronze behind Italy’s Tania Cagnotto, a two-time World Championship bronze medalist who won with 329.20 points. This is the first medal of this caliber earned by a Gamecock diver.

The medals were the first individual medals in international competition for both Brennan and Bryant in diving. In addition, it marked the first individual medals for U.S. women this year. U.S. divers have won 18 medals in 2007 Grand Prix competition but all have been in synchronized events or men’s individual competition.

Brennan was a four-time All-American for the Gamecocks from 2002-06. She was a two-time SEC champion in 2006 (3-meter and 1-meter) and was the 2004 NCAA Champion on the 1-meter.