April 12, 2016

DURBAN, South Africa — University of South Carolina sophomore Julia Vincent won the 3-meter diving competition at the 2016 South African Olympic Trials on Tuesday at the Kings Park Aquatic Centre. With the victory, Vincent is officially assured a spot in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Vincent posted a score of 298.00 over five dives. The Olympic appearance will be the first for the Gauteng, South Africa, native.

“I have never coached a diver who had to dive in so many major competitions back-to-back in my entire career,” said South Carolina head diving coach Todd Sherritt. “We started out at the SEC Championships, then went to Rio for the World Cup where she had to post a qualifying score for the Olympics. Then we came back for Zone Diving and the NCAA Championships, where she placed fourth in the country. Now she’s back in South Africa and competing for the Olympic spot. For her to overcome that hectic schedule and win the Olympic spot here is just incredible, and I am proud of her.”

Vincent already posted an Olympic qualifying score at the FINA Diving World Cup in February, which guaranteed that the nation of South Africa would be eligible to compete at the Rio Games. The Gamecock sophomore still had to earn that spot through South Africa’s Olympic Trials, which she did on Tuesday.

“Julia’s best diving is still ahead of her,” Sherritt said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that if she dives her best, we could see her in the finals in Rio.”

The appearance in Rio caps an outstanding season for Vincent. The sophomore earned All-America honors by finishing fourth at the NCAA Championships on the 1-meter board, and she placed sixth in 1-meter at the SEC Championships.