An Olympic diving athlete makes U.S. Olympic diving history. She competes in Jesus’ Name and credits God for the victory.
Journey In Diving Sport
Krysta Palmer initially competed in gymnastics and trampoline during her teenage years. She even reached elite levels in the sports. However, injuries forced her to stop from the sport at 20-years-old. That’s when a friend introduced her to diving. Nine years later, she’s made history.
The diving athlete recently competed for the Tokyo Olympics in the women’s 3-meter springboard event. According to Sports Spectrum, Krysta won a bronze medal, becoming the first U.S. female to finish on the podium in an individual diving event since the 2000 Sydney Games. Moreover, she is also the first American woman to win a medal in this category since 1988 (Kelly McCormick won bronze).
We did it!! I’m an Olympian and now an Olympic medalist!! It takes a village and I LOVE my village! #TeamUSA #gettyimages pic.twitter.com/uiVfv5Nlq9
— Krysta Palmer (@PalmerKrysta) August 1, 2021
“Wow. You know, we have really strong springboard divers in the USA right now. And if it wasn’t me, it could’ve been one of them. So carrying that level to the international stage has been exciting … it’s exciting to just make a little more history,” she said after knowing she made history.
God Had Other Plans
After learning she had won a medal, Krysta wanted to hug her coach, Jian Li You, the head diving coach at the University of Nevada. She has been her only coach ever since she started diving.
God truly blessed me with an amazing coach who’s more importantly an amazing woman. I am forever grateful for the special relationship that Jianli and I have and the goals we’ve achieved together.❤️ Always chasing goals! ????: @funkitaswimwear pic.twitter.com/N7muuqdrli
— Krysta Palmer (@PalmerKrysta) September 13, 2018
“I thought I was done with my athletic career [after stopping trampoline due to injuries], but God had other plans for me,” the Olympic athlete told the Record-Courier in Nevada last June.
“I met a friend who knew Jian Li, and she said to come up here to meet the coach. She’s incredible and has so much knowledge, a Chinese national team coach. She’s been in Nevada for more than 25 years. I just picked up diving for fun and I didn’t really see a realistic goal of the Olympics, but we just kept setting bigger and bigger dreams and goals. We just kept achieving those goals and I was like, ‘Wow, we just have to keep making bigger goals.’”

Instagram | krystapalmer
Throughout Krysta’s journey in her rise in the sport of diving, her secret is her faith in God. She has always leaned on her faith and often credited God with her achievements. In her Instagram bio, she wrote, “In Jesus’ name I play.”
Reference: Sports Spectrum