Gotro Concludes U.S. Olympic Trials
June 20, 2016
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — South Carolina’s Jordan Gotro finished 34th on Monday in the 3-meter dive at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Diving Trials. Competing alongside the best divers in the nation, the rising senior posted a score of 288.15 at IU Natatorium.
“Just getting to Olympic Trials is a huge achievement; it’s very, very difficult just to get here,” South Carolina head diving coach Todd Sherritt said. “Jordan’s road was especially difficult considering he got his cut at NCAA Zones, where the judging is so difficult. He didn’t have the meet he wanted to have today, but it’s still a great experience. There isn’t one bad diver here. I was happy that he made it here, and it’s something he will never forget.”
The top-18 finishers from 3-meter prelims advanced to finals, which will be held on Monday night, while the finals are scheduled for June 25.
Gotro started strong, with his Inward 2 1/2 Somersault Pike receiving a score of 58.50. After posting a 37.20 in his second dive, a Forward 3 1/2 Somersault Pike, he came back with his best score of the day, a 61.20 on the Forward 2 1/2 Somersault 2 Twist Pike.
Gotro received a mark of 42.00 on his fourth effort, a Back 2 1/2 Somersault Pike, and followed that with a 31.50 on the Reverse 3 1/2 Somersault Tuck. In his last dive, the Sacramento, Calif., native closed with a 57.75 on his Reverse 1 1/2 Somersault 3 1/2 Twist Free.
“Every meet builds on itself; you earn an achievement like this, and then you can put what you’ve learned to work in the collegiate season,” Sherritt said. “Making the A finals at the NCAA Championships is the goal for next year. He’s got the talent to do it, and he knows what to work on. I am really pleased and looking forward to next year.”
Gotro is the first American member of the Gamecock Swimming & Diving program to compete at Olympic Trials this season. A group of 11 Gamecocks will be in action at U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials beginning June 26 in Omaha, Neb.: current student-athletes Emma Barksdale, Cody Bekemeyer, Jeremiah Bohon, Jonathan Boland, Kersten Dirrane, Paige Maynard, Jack Smith, Meredith Vay and Taylor Worrell, assistant coach Kevin Swander and alumnus Michael Flach.
Gamecocks Akaram Mahmoud and Julia Vincent have already officially punched their tickets to the Rio Summer Olympics in August. Mahmoud will swim for Egypt, while Vincent will dive for South Africa.
