PARIS, France – Incoming freshman Emily Hallifax proved why she is one of the most exciting diving prospects in recent years, finishing eighth in the 10m synchronized diving event with her partner Jade Gillet.
Hallifax and Gillet, competing in front of a home crowd inside the Paris Aquatics Centre, opened with a stellar 47.40 on their forward pike.
Following another sturdy 45.00 in their backward pike, the duo turned things up a notch with an inward 2.5 somersault dive that scored 53.76, their highest-scoring dive of the competition.
Despite a bit of trouble with a reverse 2.5 somersault, Hallifax and Gillet gave the hometown fans one last thing to cheer about, finishing with a 50.88 on a back 2.5 somersault with 1.5 twists.
When the dust settled, their performance earned them 234.84 points and eighth overall.
Hallifax marked the third Auburn diver to compete in the Olympics. Jose Rocha represented Mexico on platform in the 1984 games and Cesar Garcia was part of Team USA in 2004. She will join head diving coach John Fox and the rest of the Auburn Tigers this fall.