Palmer’s Olympic bid ends a few points short

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Krysta Palmer’s dreams for a second Olympic bid came up just short Saturday in the 3-meter springboard competition at the University of Tennessee.

The 2020 Tokyo bronze medalist finished in third place, completing the USA Diving Trials behind her synchro teammate Alison Gibson, and Sarah Bacon.

Palmer’s final score of 629.25 was just 5.85 points behind Bacon’s second-place score of 635.1. Gibson posted a 639 to win the event.

“I’m so happy for Alison. I really, truly from my heart and my soul wanted this for her,” said Palmer. “To get out there and give it your all, it’s all that I could do.”

FINAL DIVE

Saturday’s final five dive scores were cumulative with Thursday semifinal round.

Palmer was 18.4 points behind second place after the semifinal, but after four dives in Saturday’s final, she had closed the gap to 7.45 points.

Her final dive was her most difficult – a 5154B with a 3.4 degree of difficulty  – giving her a chance to complete the comeback, but with the highest amount of pressure.

Palmer scored a 69.7 on her fifth and final dive, which was her second highest score of the Olympic Trials behind only her prior (fourth) dive of Saturday’s final (69.75).

However, Gibson scored a 68 to secure her Olympic spot with her own 5154B.

Both Palmer and Gibson had the same dive list in the semifinals and finals, ramping up the pressure for Palmer to try and outperform her teammate.

“I knew it was a battle of the 5154s for me and Alison today. It came down to that last dive for both of us and she hit it,” Palmer said. “She hit it beautifully.”

Out of the 10 dives scored, Palmer’s lowest scoring mark was her first dive of Thursday’s semifinal.

The 49.5 on her 405B had her in 11^th after the opening round.

“I had a little bit of a rocky start in that semifinals list, which that really, I mean if I hit that dive I would’ve made it,” said Palmer. “At the end of the day, I can only do what I did and look back on it and really, truly I make myself proud by how I was able to continue to fight for that spot.”

By the end of the semifinals, Palmer had worked her way into fourth place.

In the finals, Palmer had three dives of 69 points or higher, putting the pressure on the two divers in front of her to post equally impressive scores to try and hold her off.

She finished with the highest point total of any competitor in Saturday’s final round with 329.95 points.

FRAME OF MIND AND FUTURE

In the immediate aftermath of the event, Palmer said she plans to take some time for figure out what her next steps may be.

“I need a little bit of time off to digest everything. I know that the dives I did today, I am still improving,” said Palmer. “Definitely going to take some time to enjoy family and friends just the treasure of having them here, it’s been a really special Olympic Trials for me.”

At 32 years old, Palmer was one of eldest competitors in the 3-meter individual springboard.

With a bronze medal already to her name, Palmer said that finding the drive to push herself for the 2024 Trials was tougher than it had been in the past.

“Coming into this it was hard for me to find desire because I really, truly have made myself proud in so many other ways,” said Palmer. “I have an Olympic medal, like who else can truly say that? Coming into this Olympic Trials it was really gear shifting my mind into where do I find that energy and motivation for more.”

Palmer’s perspective has always been a strength and even in the moments after her dreams of a second Olympics were dashed, she was able to take a moment to appreciate her own ability to push herself in the biggest moments.

“That’s what makes me the most proud of myself. Knowing that in the most high-pressure times I truly can do it,” Palmer said. “At the end of the day, I could die happy. I really, truly have achieved everything and everything coming here was just going to be extra for me.

“At the end of the day that’s my rule for myself, as long as your still having fun you haven’t peaked yet and your body is still kicking it, I’m going to still be doing it.”