Viola Wins 10M, Qualifies for Summer Olympics

June 24, 2012

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. –  In her third attempt to make the Olympics, former Miami Hurricane star and Orlando, Fla. native Brittany Viola won the women’s 10-meter platform in the U.S. Olympic Trials at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center on Sunday.

Viola entered Sunday’s finals in first place after scoring 734.30 points on her two 10-meter lists earlier in the week. In the preliminaries, she scored no lower than 72 points on any dive, including a front 3 ½ pike and an armstand double back somersault with 1 ½ twists that both went for more than 80 points. In semifinals, she opened up with a 10 on her front 3 ½ pike for 82.50 points and followed with 88 points on her armstand.

Viola dominated Sunday’s final round, taking the 10-meter by close to 60 points ahead of Katie Bell, who captured the other roster spot for the event. Viola finished with an impressive final score of 1081.50.

Viola scored 86.40 on her second-round dive, an armstand back dive from the platform with 2 somersaults and 1 1/2 twists. She scored 80.00 on her final dive, one that clnched the 10-meter title.

After finishing in second place during the 2004 trials and fourth in the 2008 trials, Viola successfully qualified for her first-ever Olympics on Sunday. One of the most decorated divers in UM history, she captured two NCAA championships and numerous Atlantic Coast Conference championships during a stellar career in orange and green. For her oustanding performance over the past week, she’ll trade in those colors for the chance to don red, white and blue this summer in London.