U.S. synchro divers Kelci Bryant, Abby Johnston win silver medal

LONDON -- The long medal drought for U.S. divers ended Sunday afternoon in Olympic Park.

Kelci Bryant and Abby Johnston won the silver medal in the women’s 3-meter synchronized diving competition at the Aquatics Centre.

It was the first Olympic medal for the United States in diving for since Laura Wilkinson’s platform gold at Sydney in 2000.

“It was amazing all our hard work has paid off over the last four years,” Johnston said. “I’ve had Abby by my side and we have worked our butts off, calling each other for a shoulder to cry on when we needed too. I think since Abby and I got the medal it will set a good tone for U.S. diving.”

Bryant and Johnston were well behind the heavily favored Chinese team of He Zi and Wu Minxia, who won 346.20 points to 321.90. Chinese divers took all 10 diving gold medals at the World Championships last year.

Canada took its first medal of these Olympic Games as the team of Jennifer Abel and Emilie Heymans won the bronze medal with a score of 316.90.

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