Former Bulldog Chris Colwill earns trip to Olympics - WTVM.com-Columbus, GA News Weather & Sports

Former Bulldog Chris Colwill earns trip to Olympics

Posted: Updated:

  • Local SportsSPORTS

  • Thursday, May 23 2013 6:15 PM EDT2013-05-23 22:15:21 GMT
    Mikey White Delivers Game-Winning Hit In 10th Inning as Alabama defeats No. 21 Mississippi, 7-5 Crimson Tide plays its school record ninth extra-inning game of the season HOOVER, Ala. – In the school
    Mikey White Delivers Game-Winning Hit In 10th Inning as Alabama defeats No. 21 Mississippi, 7-5 Crimson Tide plays its school record ninth extra-inning game of the season HOOVER, Ala. – In the school

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:13 PM EDT2013-05-23 03:13:31 GMT
    ATLANTA (AP) - Evan Gattis kept up an amazing rookie season with his first grand slam, B.J. Upton and Ramiro Pena also homered, and the Atlanta Braves finished off a sweep of the woeful Minnesota Twins
    ATLANTA (AP) - Evan Gattis kept up an amazing rookie season with his first grand slam, B.J. Upton and Ramiro Pena also homered, and the Atlanta Braves finished off a sweep of the woeful Minnesota Twins

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:10 PM EDT2013-05-23 03:10:21 GMT
    DURHAM, N.C. (AP) - A.J. Murray and Mott Hyde hit back-to-back homers in the top of the ninth inning to help reigning champion Georgia Tech beat Florida State 4-3 on Wednesday in pool play at the Atlantic
    DURHAM, N.C. (AP) - A.J. Murray and Mott Hyde hit back-to-back homers in the top of the ninth inning to help reigning champion Georgia Tech beat Florida State 4-3 on Wednesday in pool play at the Atlantic
    •   

FEDERAL WAY, WA - Former Georgia diver Chris Colwill qualified for the London Games on Sunday by winning the men's 3-meter springboard at the United States Olympic Trials.

Colwill, who also was an Olympian in 2008, entered the finals in third place with 951.15 points, trailing Kristian Ipsen's 993.80 and Troy Dumais' 954.20. But Colwill was the best of the trio on Sunday, scoring at least 74 points on all six of his dives. He pulled into first place in the fifth round and then punctuated his win with a final dive totaling 99.75 points.

Colwill finished with 1,457.45 points, scoring 506.3 points and averaging better than 84 points in the finals. Dumais came in second with 1,448.35 points to grab the other United States spot. Ipsen, who will team with Dumais in 3-meter synchro in London, placed third with 1,447.10 points.

"I was a little behind starting the day, so I went with the ‘no fear' approach," Colwill said. "I just wanted to do the best I could, and it seemed to work at the right time. This was a very important session for me. I knew I had to do well on all six dives."

"I could not be prouder of Chris," Georgia diving coach Dan Laak said. "He did such a great job today. I was so impressed with the way he competed. He has worked so hard, and he really deserves to go back to the Olympics."

Colwill was a three-time NCAA champion and a five-time SEC champion during his career with the Bulldogs (2004-06, 2008).

Colwill is the first American with ties to the Georgia swimming and diving program to earn a spot in the London Games. The swimming trials for the United States will begin Monday in Omaha, Neb.