Four Canes Competing at FINA World Championships
BUDAPEST – Four divers from the University of Miami will be among the nearly 3,000 athletes beginning their quest at the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest this week.
Redshirt sophomore David Dinsmore, alumnus Sam Dorman and senior Briadam Herrera will represent the United States at the brand new Dagály Swimming Complex, while junior diver Marcela Maric will represent her native Croatia.
The three Hurricanes competing for Team USA trained in London last week alongside University of Miami head diving coach Randy Ableman before flying into Budapest to begin final preparations.
“Training went great for all three of them. Everybody is healthy and in a good place, and it was like a business trip,” Ableman said. “We had to get a certain number of dives in, we did that and spirits are high. Since we arrived [in Budapest], all of a sudden you’re diving with the best divers in the world in the practice, and I think it’s elevated their game one step higher.”
Ableman said he thinks the major success earned by all three divers in 2016 will help prepare them for one of the most important international events in the diving circuit.
“There’s nothing like having success in major competitions to build your confidence,” Ableman said. “The year we had, with these guys coming through in the finals of those big competitions, is only going to give them confidence in a meet like this.
“They’re going to be battling, like the Olympic Games, but there’s even more divers here. It’s tough, especially in the prelims…it’s a grind. The cream always rises to the top.”
A year ago, Dorman earned a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio with a stellar showing alongside synchronized 3-meter partner Mikey Hixon. Herrera was named ACC Men’s Diver of the Year after finishing as the national runner-up in the 3-meter and picking up his third and fourth All-America honors. Dinsmore then capped a brilliant year for Miami Diving with a national championship in the 10-meter platform in his first ever trip to the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships.
“Once you advance, you start thinking medal, but you can’t be thinking like that until you advance through the earlier rounds,” Ableman said. “Briadam earned a bronze medal at the World University Games, and that was his start to knowing he could compete on the international stage. This is another step up from there.
“All these guys have had some impressive experience, but they’re going to have to bring it. From what we’ve seen in practice, I think we’re going to be in a good place.”
Maric opens the competition with 1-meter springboard event on Friday, July 14. Dorman and Hixon compete in the 3-meter synchro on Saturday, July 15.
Dinsmore and Krysta Palmer will take part in the mixed team event on Monday, July 18. The team event consists of one male and one female, with each diver performing three dives. All six groups of dives must be represented, and divers must perform on both the 3-meter springboard and 10-meter platform
Maric will compete in the 3-meter springboard for Croatia on Thursday, July 20th before Dinsmore returns to the boards for the preliminary and semifinal rounds of the 10-meter platform event on Friday, July 21st. On the final day of diving competition,
Herrera and teammate Lauren Reedy compete in the mixed synchronized 3-meter, while Dinsmore will be hoping to be competing in the platform finals.
Broadcast and streaming information for the FINA World Diving Championships can be found HERE.
