Gahanna’s Maycey Vieta ready for Olympic diving debut

GAHANNA, Ohio ( WCMH ) — Thousands of the best athletes in the world are making their way to Paris, including some from right here in central Ohio.

Not all local athletes are competing for Team USA, however. Gahanna’s Maycey Vieta is heading to her first Olympics, diving for Puerto Rico.

Maycery graduated from Gahanna Lincoln High School in 2019, winning a state championship her sophomore year.

After Gahanna, she went on to Purdue where she dove for the Boilermakers, winning numerous Big Ten accolades including a Big Ten title her senior year on the 10-meter platform.

Now, she’s off to Paris to compete in the same event. She will be joined in the city by four of her Purdue teammates, including her boyfriend of seven years, Greg Duncan, who will compete for Team USA.

“I’ve been diving for Puerto Rico since 2019 so definitely used to it now,” said Maycey. “And I think it’s pretty cool to be able to go there with 4 of my teammates and my boyfriend of course. I get to see every single day how hard we all work and when we practice together, so going into the village if anything, it feels like home.”

Maycey was busy packing for her trip over when NBC4’s Matt Barnes caught up with her. Her flight leaves Columbus on July 18. She won’t compete until August 5, so she has 2 weeks to get used to the city and get some training in with team Puerto Rico.

Although Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, it has had its own team since it was first recognized independently in 1948. As the island self-governs its internal affairs, the International Olympic Committee felt it deserved its own team, according to NBC’s Sports Engine.

Her Mom, Dad and all five siblings will be in Paris to root her on. Many more family and friends will do the same from Central Ohio and the U.S.

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