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).

Another vault. Another disaster. Another Olympic dream ended.

By AD Jewell

Copyright 2016 All Rights Reserved

(Video courtesy of Everything Sports via YouTube.com)

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (August 7, 2016) For the second time in four years, French gymnast Samir Ait Said's Olympic dreams came to a crash landing while vaulting. While attempting a double somersault off the vault at the Rio Olympic Arena on Saturday, August 6, 2016, Said landed forcefully on his right knee causing the tibia and fibuia bones in his calf to snap. Spectators and commentators have reported being able to hear the snap throughout the arena, while ultimately the world was watching and saw one of the most gruesome injuries in the sport on live television.

Said laid silently in pain, covering his face, while his right leg dangled awkwardly. His coaches and teammates also covering their faces after seeing the 26-year-old's injury. Said is said to be "the friendliest teammate" by his fellow French gymnasts  and his injury is a great loss to the whole team.

Unfortunately, Said has been in this spot before. While preparing for the 2012 Olympics in London at the Men's European Championship in Montpellier, France, Said broke his left leg on a similar vault, ending that Olympic run.

In a Facebook video posted by Said from his hospital bed, he vows to be back in the stands cheering on his teammates shortly while sporting a blue and red cast! In his video, Said is grateful for all the support fans and teammates are giving him and vows to win gold in Tokyo 2020.

USA's Ginny Thrasher win gold medal in 10-meter air rifle in Rio

Photo courtesy of USA Shooting
Used with permission.

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2016 TexSport Publications

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (August 6, 2016) Nineteen-year old Ginny Thrasher, a sophomore at West Virginia University, won the first gold medal awarded at the Games if the XXXI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Competing in the women’s 10-meter air rifle, Thrasher bested a competitive field with the score of 208.0.  Thrasher downed China’s two-time gold medalist Li Du by a single point. Du’s teammate, Siling Yu earned the bronze medal. Thrasher’s teammate, American Sarah Scherer finished in eighth position.

Thrasher, a native of Springfield, Virginia who attend West Springfield High School became the first freshman to win an NCAA title this past year. She began shooting five years ago. She will also compete in the 50-meter rifle, three position on Saturday, August 13, 2016.

Former Texas A&M swimmer Cammile Adams qualifies for Rio Olympic Games in 200-meter butterfly

Photo courtesy of Texas A&M University 

Media Relations Department, Used with permission

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2016 TexSport Publications

OMAHA, NEBRASKA  (July 1, 2016) Coming back from a preliminary disqualification that was later overturned, Cammile Adams punched her ticket to Rio de Janeiro and the Games of the 31st Olympiad by winning the 200-meter butterfly at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha, Nebraska on Thursday, June 30, 2016. The 24-year old Houston area native battled back from seventh place after the first 50 meters to third place at the halfway point in the race. She powered a 32.48 second, third leg of the race to take the lead of which she did not yield and as a result, won the event and a trip to Brazil.

Adams, who swam collegiately for Texas A&M University, posted the time of 2:06.80 to earn her second trip to the Olympic Games. At the 2012 London Olympics, she placed fifth in the event with the time of 2:06.76. In her preliminary heat in Omaha, Adams swam a comfortable 2:08.29 to lead the field after her reinstatement from the previous disqualification on Wednesday morning. In the semifinal later that evening, she improved her time to 2:07.31 to again lead the field.

 Her time of 2:06.80 in the finals on Thursday ranks seventh in the world in the event in 2016, behind top ranked Madeline Groves. Groves time of 2:05.47, which came at the 2016 Australian Championship, currently leads the world in 2016. The current world record is held by China’s Zige Liu with the time of 2:01.81 set on October 21, 2009.

Also earning a berth to the Rio Olympics in the 200-meter butterfly was Hali Flickinger. The 21-year old made her first Olympic team with the time of 2:07.50 and a second place finish. The Olympic Games in Rio begin on August 5 with the women’s 200-meter butterfly preliminary and semi-final heats on Tuesday, August 9. The final is scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, August 10.