Former Houston Cougars diver Tania Cagnotto takes silver medal in Rio

Photo courtesy of  University of Houston
Athletics Communications Department
Used with permission.

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2016 TexSport Publications

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (August 7, 2016) Former University of Houston diver Tania Cagnotto finally realized her Olympic dream by taking the silver medal in the women’s synchronized 3-meter springboard diving at the Games of the 32^nd Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on August 7, 2016. The five-time Olympian from Italy combined with Francesca Dallape for the score of 313.83 points to earn the first Olympic medal for both divers.

Cagnotto best finish in Olympic competition prior to Rio was  fourth place in London 2012 in both the 3-meter springboard and the 3-meter synchronized springboard. She placed 18^th in the 3-meter springboard in 2000 Sydney and eighth place in both the 3-meter springboard and 10-meter platform in Athens. In 2008 Beijing, she was fourth in the 3-meter springboard and tenth on the 10-meter platform. Cagnotto was eighth in the 3-meter springboard at the 2006 NCAA Championships for the University of Houston and earned All-America honors.

The duo of China’s Shi Tingmao and Wu Minxia won the gold medal with the score of 345.60.  Australia’s Maddison Keeney and Anabelle Smith took the bronze (299.19 points).