LONDON - We are heading over to the Aquatics Center in moments for the start of the Olympic diving competition. We'll be there to cover the 3 meter synchronized diving competition. That's where eight teams of two will vie for the medals.

We are obviously pulling for the lone USA team, Kelci Bryant and Abby Johnston. Bryant, an Illinois native came to the University of Minnesota to follow her coach Wenbo Chen who is still the head coach for the Gophers.

Bryant finished in a painfully close fourth in this event at the 2008 Beijing games, so she is on a mission this time around. And, having spent plenty of time with her at the U's aquatic center over the last few months I can tell you I'm not betting against her.

Her partner this time around is a young woman from Duke University named Abby Johnston. To see them diving simultaneously right next to each other is a thing of beauty. Sometimes I see them and think they've nailed a dive and then find out later that they thought it was way off. That's how subtle the sport of synchro is and how exacting they are as competitors.

They do everything in sync, throw down their chamois together, walk up to the edge in unison, hurtle, jump, twist, turn and splash as a tandem. Now hopefully later tonight they'll be standing on the podium as a perfect pair.

Time to get on the shuttle!

perkout

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