Former Duke diver Abby Johnston qualifies for Rio Olympics

Abby Johnston, a 2012 Olympic silver medalist in women’s synchronized 3-meter diving, will return to the Olympics this summer in Rio after qualifying Sunday in the team trials.

Johnston, a Duke medical student and 2013 graduate, finished second behind Kassidy Cook with a score of 949.3 in three rounds of diving.

Johnston opened Sunday’s final with 69.00 points from the judges on a back 2  1/2 somersault. She stayed in second over the next two rounds despite dipping below the 60-point mark, before bouncing back to above 70 points on each of her final two dives. Johnston earned 72.00 points on an inward 2  1/2 somersault in round four, and closed with 70.50 points on a forward 2  1/2 somersault with one twist.

Four years ago in London, Johnston and fellow American Kelci Bryant claimed the United States’ first Olympic medal in a synchronized diving event. The duo also ended a 12-year medal drought for the Americans in all diving events.

Heading into Sunday’s trials, the U.S. had qualified just one women’s 3-meter spot for Rio. Cook led the field through last Tuesday’s preliminaries and semifinals, with Johnston sitting just over 34 points back and Laura Ryan only 14.95 points behind her in third. However, the U.S. received notification Friday it had been awarded a second spot by FINA, meaning two women’s 3-meter divers would be named to the U.S. Olympic Team.

Diving events at the 2016 Olympic in Rio begin Aug. 7.

This story was originally published June 26, 2016 at 7:34 PM with the headline "Former Duke diver Abby Johnston qualifies for Rio Olympics."