It was a quiet year for the University of Miami diving team as most of the divers redshirted and have been hard at work with a different goal in mind: preparing for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, which begin July 26 and run through Aug. 11.
Miami head coach Randy Ableman’s wealth of experience coaching at the Olympics has helped his athletes aim for this feat, and taking this year off from NCAA competition helped the Hurricanes retain a year of eligibility while experiencing international competition on the sport’s biggest stage.
Two of them: Chiara Pellacani and Mohamed Farouk will be competing in Paris. Pellacani will represent Italy and Farouk will dive for Egypt. Emma Gullstrand competed for Sweden at the 2020 Olympics (which were held in 2021 due to COVID) but was unable to qualify for Paris due to injury. Several other Hurricanes fell just short of making Olympic teams.
Incoming UM freshman Jake Passmore will also be at the Paris Olympics representing Ireland.
“We’re in a weird place this year. Some of our top divers are redshirting, including our women’s team. A few months ago, they were at the World Championships in Qatar. They’re competing internationally, and that’s why they’re redshirting,” Ableman said, explaining his decision to redshirt all but two divers this season.
Ableman’s involvement with Team USA began in 1980, when he made the roster as a diver, but never had the chance to compete due to the Team USA boycott of the Moscow Games.
After missing the spot for the 1984 team, Ableman turned to coaching. As head coach for Miami diving, he quickly obtained national recognition and returned to the Olympic stage as a coach for the USA in 1996.
Ableman went on to coach for six consecutive Olympics for Team USA (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016).
When asked about his Olympic experience, one event stood out. “I’ve only had one kid get a medal, it was Sam Dorman. In Brazil [in 2016], we got the silver medal. And that was great because I’ve had a lot of good performances at the Olympics, but never medal worthy,” Ableman said.
Throughout the decades of successful international coaching, Ableman has easily attracted international athletes to dive for Miami, with seven divers representing six different countries on this year’s roster.
This positions the team in a prime spot to send its athletes to represent the University of Miami and their respective countries in the Olympics this summer.
While discussing this year’s team with Ableman, there was a focus on maximizing each diver’s performance at international competitions.
“My job as a coach is to make sure their mind’s right to help get the nerves out of them. I teach them not to be afraid of feeling nervous, just accept it, and stay focused on the task at hand,” Ableman stated when asked how he is preparing his athletes for the Olympics.
Miami has produced 19 Olympic divers (12 under Ableman’s tenure) in school history.
Pellacani and Farouk were added to the list this summer. Pellacani, an LSU transfer, had previously represented Italy in the Olympics, but never as a member of the Hurricanes.
After placing first in the Women’s 3-meter springboard at the 2023 European Games, Pellacani became the first Hurricanes diver to clinch her Olympic berth last June. Having not participated in NCAA competition, this was the confidence boost she needed as she prepares to return to the Olympic stage.
Farouk displayed a stellar performance at the 2023 African Diving Championships, winning three events, helping him secure an Olympic spot in the 3-meter springboard for Egypt. The native of Egypt was one of two divers to compete for the Hurricanes this season, winning a silver medal at the ACC diving championships for platform diving this March.
“It is something I’ll never forget. I dreamed about making the Olympics for years, it took years of competition and addressing my weak spots to make it happen. Being able to share that moment with my family was special,” Farouk discussed when recalling the moment.
“[Farouk] and I decided a weakness in his game is his ability to bring it through in competition. He needs to be in more competitions, so he’s doing the international and college meets,” Ableman said regarding Farouk juggling his busy competitive schedule this year.
Due to an injury sustained this season, redshirt sophomore Gullstrand couldn’t secure her return to the Olympics this summer. After undergoing surgery in November, Gullstrand was back in the water doing all she could to prepare for next season with the Hurricanes.
Gullstrand previously represented the Hurricanes and Sweden in the 2020 Olympics, where she placed 13th in the Women’s 3-meter Springboard. Gullstrand’s prior success in NCAA and international competitions shows how much of an impact she can make on the team next season when returning.
Another group of Hurricanes divers came up short of an Olympic berth in their national qualifiers. All showed promising potential to make a return and remain competitive for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
In May, redshirt senior Mia Vallee hit the water competing for the last Team Canada’s spot in the 3-meter springboard. Although placing fourth, Vallee has shown a lot of promise and is seen as a favorite to secure a spot for the 2028 Olympics.
Vallee’s career with the Canes has been exceptional, winning a national championship (1-meter springboard) in 2022 along with two gold and three silver ACC medals.
Australia native Brodie Scapens also fell short of an Olympic appearance at the Australian Olympic Trials in June. This was a great end to the senior’s best season at Miami, taking home his first ACC gold medal in the 1-meter springboard.
Max Flory, one of the Hurricane’s most consistent divers, had a chance to compete in the 3-meter springboard and platform at the United States Olympic Trials. Flory has had a remarkable career for the Canes, winning four ACC gold medals and sweeping all events in 2023, helping him win ACC Diver of the Year that year.
Despite falling short of an Olympic appearance, Flory finished eighth in platform, proving he can be a contender at the next Olympics trials.
The newly built Aquatics Centre in Saint-Denis, France, will seat 2,500 spectators and host all diving events throughout the two weeks. The venue is one of two permanent sports facilities built for the Paris 2024 Games.
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