Michael Hixon, Andrew Copobianco Win Bronze at FINA Diving World Series

KNOXVILLE, TN - August 16, 2014: Michael Hixon during the 2014 USA Senior Diving National Event at Allan Jones Aquatic Center in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Matthew S. DeMaria

Photo Courtesy: Matthew S. DeMaria

Michael Hixon and Andrew Capobianco won a bronze medal in synchronized 3-meter as the FINA Diving World Series in Montreal kicked off Friday with four synchronized diving events.

Hixon and Capobianco, competing in their first international competition as a synchro team, scored 416.49 points to edge the Russian pair of Evgenii Kuznetsov and Nikita Shleikher by 0.36 points for bronze. The Americans were fourth and 10.50 points out of third heading into the last round, but Hixon and Capobianco had an edge in difficulty in the final round as they were performing a more difficulty front 4 ½ tuck. They came through with 85.50 points on the dive, enough to overtake the Russian pair, who finished with 74.55 points on a reverse 3 ½ tuck. China’s Cao Yuan and Xie Siyi won gold with 457.14 points, and Mexico’s Rommel Pacheco and Jahir Ocampo scored 433.02 points to take the silver.

In women’s synchronized 3-meter, Samantha Bromberg (Bexley, Ohio/Austin, Texas) and Brooke Schultz (Fayetteville, Ark.) finished fourth with 288.60 points in the women’s synchronized contest. Shi Tingmao and Wang Han of China scored 327.00 points for gold, while Canada’s Jennifer Abel and Melissa Citrini Beaulieu claimed the silver with 306.27 points. Australians Maddison Keeney and Anabelle Smith were third at 303.39.

David Dinsmore (New Albany, Ohio/Miami, Fla.) and Brandon Loschiavo (Huntington Beach, Calif./West Lafayette, Ind.) scored 378.84 points to finish sixth in men’s synchronized 10-meter. China’s Yang Hao and Lian Junjie topped the field with 464.52 points, followed by Great Britain’s Tom Daley and Matthew Lee at 412.20. Mexico’s Andres Villarreal and Kevin Berlin scored 398.46 points for bronze.

Jessica Parratto (Dover, N.H./Bloomington, Ind.) and Delaney Schnell (Tucson, Ariz.) placed seventh with 270.42 points in women’s synchronized 10-meter. Kim Mi Rae and Jo Jin Mi of North Korea scored 329.70 to edge Canadians Meaghan Benfeito and Caeli McKay 1.23 points for gold. China’s Lu Wei and Zhang Jiaqi finished third with 320.64 points.

The FINA World Series meet in Montreal continues through Sunday, April 28. Hixon will compete again Saturday when he dives in the individual 3-meter contest. Katrina Young (Shoreline, Wash./Tallahassee, Fla.) is slated to dive in two events on Saturday. She’ll dive individually on 10-meter and then pair with Tyler Downs (Ballwin, Mo./Indianapolis, Ind.) in the mixed synchronized 10-meter event. Dinsmore will dive in Sunday’s individual 10-meter event, and Hailey Hernandez (Southlake, Texas) will compete 3-meter.

Check out more diving news here.

— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with USA Diving. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.

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Thomas A. Small

4 years ago

Congratulations guys

Ken Minneman

4 years ago

Go Hoosiers!