US diver Alison Gibson cut and bruised after hitting board but completes event

By James On Aug 7, 2024

American diver Alison Gibson said she suffered cuts and bruises after falling off the board during the women’s 3-meter springboard event on Wednesday.

Gibson’s feet hit the springboard as she performed a somersault in a bent position during her first dive in the preliminary round of the competition.

After a loud bang and gasps from the crowd, Gibson fell awkwardly into the water, effectively ruining her chances at an Olympic medal as she was awarded zero points for the dive. Gibson kept going, completing her remaining four dives with as much composure as she could muster, but still finished last, marking the end of her journey in Paris.

“I hit my heels and my feet on the board. I got cuts along the sides. And then I bruised my right heel pretty bad, but I was determined to keep going,” said a tearful Gibson, the cuts on both feet still raw.

“I was definitely in pain. But I’ll say one thing: I hope everyone watching saw what it’s like to get up and keep going, even when things aren’t going your way. It’s about the fight.

“It’s clear that today didn’t go the way I wanted. But I think you can learn and grow from every experience, and I really hope that the next generation of athletes realizes that even in the worst moments you can keep fighting, you can keep running bravely.”

The 25-year-old was on the verge of retirement after finishing last in the 3m synchronised jumping event at the Tokyo Games three years ago.

However, she decided to return to the sport to draw attention to issues outside the pool. She sponsors a schoolchild in Kenya through Missions of Hope International, a nonprofit organization, and hopes her Olympic experience can draw attention to the project.

“I decided that I didn’t just want to come back to dive, I wanted to have an impact beyond just myself,” she said. “My mission is that every child in that school is sponsored at the end of the Olympics. I really hope that the courage I showed today has a positive impact on the people around me.”