Historic Moments in Nevada: Krysta Palmer, Carson City Olympian
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Sat, 10/30/2021 - 7:50am
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Krysta Palmer, a Carson City resident who grew up in Gardnerville, graduated from Western Nevada College and the University of Nevada, Reno, made history during the Summer Olympics in Tokyo as the first U.S. woman to finish on the podium during individual diving since the Sydney Games in 2000.
She brought home bronze in the women’s 3-meter springboard event, the first American woman to claim this medal since Kelly McCormick won bronze in 1988 during the Seoul Summer Olympics.
Palmer is the first Olympian from Nevada in the Swim and Dive program to represent Team USA.
She had previously competed in gymnastics and trampoline, until injuries led her to her switch to diving at the age of 20.
Since starting on her path to diving, Palmer has only had one coach, Jian Li You, the head diving coach at the University of Nevada as well as the first female U.S. Olympic diving coach. Jian herself is a former Chinese National diver.
In 2015, Palmer was named as one of the school’s top female student-athletes at the University of Nevada, Reno, and earned a full scholarship to compete for Nevada and competed for the U.S. National Team the same year. Her first medal was awarded during an international competition three years later in 2018.
She was welcomed back at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport by fans and supporters on Aug. 3, the same day Reno Mayor Hilary Schieve declared Aug. 3, 2021 “Krysta Palmer Day.”
Palmer’s final round dives
First round – 67.50
Second round – 63
Third round – 73.50
Fourth round – 66.65
Fifth round – 73.1
Final standings
Gold – Shi Tingmao, China, 383.50
Silver – Wang Han, China, 348.75
Bronze – Krysta Palmer, USA, 343.75
Krysta Palmer brings home the Bronze Medal during the 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics
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