Watch the incredible synchronized dive that earned Mass. native Mike Hixon a silver medal
Michael Hixon and Sam Dorman didn’t compete as a diving pair for the first time until the U.S. Olympic team trials in June. Less than two months later, the tandem defied the odds in Rio on Wednesday to win silver in the men’s synchronized 3m springboard final.Hixon
, 22, grew up in Amherst, Mass. His mother, Mandy, is the diving coach at UMass. His father, David, is the men’s head basketball coach at Amherst College. Dorman, 24, grew up in Arizona.
Coming into the games, Hixon and Dorman were given 50-1 odds to win gold in this event, only listed ahead of host Brazil. With the U.S. pair in seventh place after two of six rounds at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre, the forecast initially seemed apt on Wednesday. But a series of strong dives was capped by one incredible score on their final attempt — following bit of confusion involving a lighting glitch — to lock up a spot on the medal stand.
TWINNING!
USA Diving wins the silver after an unbelievable 98.04 dive. https://t.co/L7yRrNUS1Q https://t.co/l5WISQrgko
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 10, 2016
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