Olympic Diving Trials: Krug, Loukas qualify for London; Boudia, McCrory earn spots on second event

Cassidy Krug (Coraopolis, Pa.) and Christina Loukas (Riverwoods, Ill.) earned spots on the U.S. Olympic team in women’s 3-meter springboard, and David Boudia (Noblesville, Ind.) and Nick McCrory (Chapel Hill, N.C.) finished atop the men’s 10-meter standings Saturday at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

June 24, 2012 1:01 am
The United States Olympic Trials — Diving continues at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center through June 24 with berths into August's 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London on the line.
The United States Olympic Trials — Diving continues at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center through June 24 with berths into August's 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London on the line.

Cassidy Krug (Coraopolis, Pa.) and Christina Loukas (Riverwoods, Ill.) earned spots on the U.S. Olympic team in women’s 3-meter springboard, and David Boudia (Noblesville, Ind.) and Nick McCrory (Chapel Hill, N.C.) finished atop the men’s 10-meter standings Saturday at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials inside the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center.

Krug scored 1094.85 points over three lists of dives in the women’s 3-meter contest to make her first Olympic team, while Loukas finished with 1017.85 points to claim the second spot and make her second Olympic Team.

Krug opened the finals with 79.50 points on her first dive, an inward 2 ½, and scored 75 points or higher on three other dives throughout the afternoon.

“I’ve been wanting to go to the Olympics since I was 3. I can’t believe I’m really going. If I can go dive the way I know I can dive, I’ll be happy,” Krug said. “I was happy with my mental state (this week) and that I was able to focus on all 15 dives.”

Loukas headed into the finals in second place and despite missing her reverse 2 ½ pike for just 49.50 points, she never let go of that position spot. She scored 72 points or higher on three other dives, including 76.50 on her back 2 ½ in the first round.

Boudia and McCrory, who had already qualified for the team in men’s synchronized 10-meter on Thursday, added individual 10-meter events to their London schedule upon finishing first and second on Saturday. Boudia finished with 1642.40 points, with McCrory placing second with 1582.55.

Boudia scored more than 100 points on two dives in the finals, earning one 10 for 102.60 points on his back 3 ½ pike and receiving three 9.5s for 101.75 points on his front 4 ½ tuck.

McCrory received six 10s of his own, including five on a back 3 ½ tuck for 99 points. He had another 10 on a reverse 3 ½ tuck that scored 92.40 points. He also scored 97.20 points on his back 2 ½ with 2 ½ twists.

“In the past two years, Nick has really grown, and that’s what we need for the Olympic team,” Boudia said. “We feed off each other, and it was a fun competition. Seattle was wonderful. They were loud and a great host.”

Thomas Finchum (Indianapolis, Ind.), a 2008 Olympian, finished third with 1463.20 points. He earned a pair of 10s on his reverse 3 ½ tuck in the finals. At the conclusion of the contest, he indicated this was his last 10-meter competition and plans to retire after Sunday’s 3-meter springboard event.

The Trials conclude Sunday with finals in men’s 3-meter and women’s 10-meter. Eight divers have already claimed spots on the team.