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Olympics and Paralympics
Juana Summers, NPR and MPR News Staff

A former University of Minnesota diver wins first U.S. medal of the Paris Summer Olympics

Two athletes hold up silver medals
The United States won its first medals at the Paris Olympic Games when Sarah Bacon (left) and Kassidy Cook took silver in the synchronized 3m springboard final on Saturday. Bacon is a former diver at the University of Minnesota.
Sarah Stier | Getty Images

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Divers Sarah Bacon, formerly of the University of Minnesota, and Kassidy Cook have won the United States’ first medal of the Paris Olympics.

Bacon and Cook took home the silver in the 3-meter synchronized springboard competition, held at the Aquatics Center in Saint-Denis, north of Paris. This is the first time the U.S. has medaled in the event since 2012.

Chinese competitors Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen took the gold, followed by Bacon and Cook of the U.S. Scarlett Mew Jensen and Yasmin Harper of Great Britain won the bronze medal.

This is the first medal for both Bacon and Cook. Bacon is making her Olympic debut and was the 2021 Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year. Meanwhile, Cook competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where she came in 13th in the women’s 3-meter springboard.

During her time in Minnesota, Bacon was a five-time NCAA and a four-time Big Ten Champion. Bacon is known as the only woman in University of Minnesota history to have won three or more NCAA titles in any sport, making her the most decorated female athlete in school history.

The 2024 U.S. Olympic diving staff also features Minnesota diving Coach Wenbo Chen as an assistant coach. Chen previously coached U.S. Diving during the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London games. In his 15 seasons with the Gophers, 65 divers have received All-American honors. The program has also consistently sent divers to the NCAA Championships.

Bacon was just one of three swimming and diving athletes to represent the Gophers in Paris. She is joined by men's swimmer Bar Soloveychik (Israel) and women's Paralympic swimmer Summer Schmit (USA).

Bacon will compete in the 3m individual springboard beginning August 7. 

Kassidy Cook and Sarah Bacon of the U.S. compete in the women's synchronized 3-meter springboard diving final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on Saturday. They won silver, the first U.S. medal in the event since 2012.
Kassidy Cook and Sarah Bacon of the U.S. compete in the women's synchronized 3-meter springboard diving final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on Saturday. They won silver, the first U.S. medal in the event since 2012.
Sebastien Bozon/AFP via Getty Images

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