Sarah Bacon & Kassidy Cook -The United States celebrated its first medal at the Paris Olympics as Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook won silver in the women’s synchronized 3-meter springboard competition at the Aquatics Centre. The duo, scoring 314.64 points, finished second behind China’s Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen.
Medal Details and Competitors
Sarah Bacon, 27, and Kassidy Cook, 29, delivered a stellar performance, securing Team USA’s first medal in women’s synchronized springboard since Kelci Bryant and Abby Johnston’s silver in London 2012. Great Britain’s Tasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen claimed bronze with 302.28 points.
Competition Highlights
The Americans scored consistently, with scores of 49.80, 51.00, 71.010, 72.54, and 70.20, ensuring a podium finish with three consecutive 70s. Cook mentioned that their competitive trials set them up well for Paris, while Bacon expressed confidence in their final dive securing a medal.
Also read- USA Medal Winners at Paris Olympics 2024: A Complete List
Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook
| Details | Sarah Bacon | Kassidy Cook |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 27 | 29 |
| Hometown | Indianapolis, Indiana | The Woodlands, Texas |
| Olympic Debut | Paris 2024 | Rio 2016, Paris 2024 |
| Olympic Events | Synchronized 3-meter, Individual springboard | Synchronized 3-meter |
| Personal Challenges | Missed Tokyo 2020, injuries, mental struggles | Eight-year hiatus, personal challenges |
| Family Support | Boyfriend: Nick Jaworski | |
| Medal Achievements | Silver in Synchronized 3-meter, Paris 2024 | Silver in Synchronized 3-meter, Paris 2024 |
| Additional Notes | First Olympic medal with synchro partner | First female diver in non-consecutive Olympics |
the table with the full list of U.S. medal winners:
| No | Date | Athlete/Team | Medal | Event | Sport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27 July | Sarah Bacon/Kassidy Cook | Silver | Women’s springboard 3m synchronized | Diving |
| 2 | 27 July | Chloe Dygert | Bronze | Women’s individual time trial | Cycling |
| 3 | 27 July | Katie Ledecky | Bronze | 400m freestyle | Swimming |
| 4 | 27 July | Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh, Torri Huske, Simone Manuel, Erika Connolly, Abbey Weitzel | Silver | 4x100m freestyle, women | Swimming |
| 5 | 27 July | Jack Alexj, Chris Guiliano, Hunter Armstrong, Caeleb Dressel, Ryan Held, Matt King | Gold | 4x100m freestyle, men | Swimming |
| 6 | 28 July | Haley Batten | Silver | Women’s cross country | Mountain Bike |
| 7 | 28 July | Torri Huske | Gold | Women’s 100m butterfly | Swimming |
| 8 | 28 July | Gretchen Walsh | Silver | Women’s 100m butterfly | Swimming |
| 9 | 28 July | Carson Foster | Bronze | Men’s 400m IM | Swimming |
| 10 | 28 July | Lee Kiefer | Gold | Women’s individual foil | Fencing |
| 11 | 28 July | Lauren Scruggs | Silver | Women’s individual foil | Fencing |
| 12 | 28 July | Nic Fink | Silver | Men’s 100m breaststroke |
Team USA’s Diving Legacy
The last U.S. diver to win an Olympic gold was David Boudia in the men’s platform in 2012. Bacon and Cook’s silver medal adds to the legacy of U.S. diving, highlighting the determination and resilience of American athletes.
Reflections from the Athletes
Sarah Bacon shared her thoughts on missing out on Tokyo:
“I feel like it’s been a really long journey coming. Being able to make the Olympic team this time, and then also being able to do it in synchro with my best friend here at this Olympic Games, and then also walking away with the silver medal means I have no words to describe any of this.”
Kassidy Cook reflected on her unique journey:
“I think that my journey is an uncommon one. I’m the first female diver to attend non-consecutive Olympic Games. And in between those two, I’ve been through a lot personally. … So knowing that my grit and my determination ended up working out means everything in the world to me.”
Family Support
Bacon attributed her success to her family and boyfriend, Nick Jaworski, a former kicker of Mississippi State University:
“It’s been hard mentally… He looked me in the eyes and said, ‘No, you’re going to go back. You’re going to dive, and we’re going to make your dream happen.’”
China’s Dominance in Diving
China’s dominance in diving continues, having won six out of seven gold medals in this event since 2000. Since the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, China has amassed 47 golds, 23 silvers, and 10 bronzes in diving.
| Team | Divers | Medal | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | Chang Yani, Chen Yiwen | Gold | 336.60 |
| USA | Sarah Bacon, Kassidy Cook | Silver | 314.64 |
| Great Britain | Tasmin Harper, Scarlett Mew Jensen | Bronze | 302.28 |
Bacon and Cook’s silver medal is a promising sign for US diving. Their victory, coupled with their inspiring stories of perseverance, could inspire a new generation of divers to pursue their Olympic dreams.
As the Olympics progress, the world will be watching to see if the US can build on this momentum and challenge China’s dominance in the diving pool.
