Jessica Parratto Qualifies for Third Olympics in 10-meter Synchro
Olympic Medalist Jessica Parratto qualified for her third Olympic Games last night following a dominant performance in the 10 Meter Synchronized event. Parratto and diving-partner Delaney Schnell outscored the next duo by over 100 points to punch their ticket to Paris.
For Parratto this adds yet another accolade to her continually growing diving resume. On top of now being a three time Olympian, at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo Parratto, along with Schnell, became the first American pair to ever take home a medal (silver) in the 10-meter synchronized event.
“I try not to look at the scoreboard, but I think we knew we had a chance. We just wanted to do five good dives,” Parratto told USA Diving. “There were even some dives I wanted to improve upon and get a little bit better. Obviously, it was good enough and a really good and solid last dive for us.”
“It was just all of the emotions coming together of the past three years, and just not expecting, honestly, to be where I am right now. Going to a third Games is just crazy.”
Originally Parratto had planned to retire from the sport completely after the Tokyo Olympics, but Schnell convinced her to come back to the sport for another go-around. Parratto and Schnell reunited for the first time since Tokyo, and now the pair is headed to Paris.
“(Delaney) got me out of retirement. A couple of months of prying. Obviously, it was my decision, and I was happy to come out of retirement just for synchro because it’s such a fun event,” Parratto said, “I wanted to give it one more shot with Delaney next to me. It was all so perfect. It was just as surprising to me too, I surprised myself,”
Collegiately Parratto competed for the IU Hoosiers under diving coach Drew Johansen and was an NCAA Champion in the 10-meter platform in 2015. Additionally Jessica’s father Mike was the coach of 12-time Olympic Medalist Jenny Thompson.
No Olympians will be named today in Knoxville as divers adjust from synchronized to individual competition. Action will start up again on Thursday for the preliminaries and semifinals of the women’s 3-meter and the men’s 10-meter.