Medical student Abby Johnston will not be the only Duke diving representative at the upcoming Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Johnston's coach, Blue Devil head diving coach Nunzio Esposto, was named to the U.S. Olympic team coaching staff Friday. He will make his first trip to the Olympics after helping Johnston earn her second Olympic berth. The 2012 silver medalist in London competed in the synchronized 3-meter event that year but qualified as an individual on the 3-meter platform in late June to punch her ticket to Rio.
“The entire week in Indianapolis was nerve-wracking and emotional, but we both kept our heads on straight and did what we needed to do,” Esposto said in a release. “I‘m really excited to go to Rio and I’m looking forward to her keeping up her level of competition. Hopefully we’ll have a great outcome there.”
Esposto joined Duke's coaching staff in 2013—shortly after Johnston graduated—but also has significant international experience. He was previously part of the national team coaching staff at the 2015 FINA World Championships and 2011 FINA World Series. He also coached 2012 bronze medalist Nick McCrory both before college and during McCrory's Duke career.
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