Fifteen-year-old Haley Ishimatsu has clinched a spot on her first U.S. Olympic diving team.
The California native made the team with a sensational showing on Sunday in Knoxville, Tenn. Competing in the U.S. Olympic diving selection camp at the Allen Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center, Ishimatsu scored 95.2 points — the day's best effort — on her final dive at the grueling five-day tryout.
Talk about a flair for the dramatic.
"Before I did it, I said that I have done this 1,000 times," Ishimatsu told the Knoxville News Sentinel. "When I came out of the water, I heard my coach and sister screaming. It was exhilarating."
USA Diving officials announced its 12-member (six men and six women) Olympic squad on Monday.
Ishimatsu is scheduled to compete in the 10-meter springboard and 10-meter synchronized diving events in China. Mary Beth Dunnichay, also 15, is Ishimatsu's partner in the synchronized event.