It will be a markedly different experience than Hixon had in Brazil five years ago. They’ll spend much of the time training together either in Indiana (where Capobianco is and they both went to college) or Michigan (where Hixon is working on an MBA).
He and Capobianco won’t leave for Tokyo for another month. “You always dream of medaling as an individual, but I know we’re in a good spot to win a medal in synchro, and I can put all of my energy into that,” Hixon said. It lets him focus more on synchro, where there will only be eight teams competing and a much better chance at a medal. I don’t get another opportunity.”īut he found a silver lining. I thought I prepared pretty well, and it started in the prelims and it went well,” he said. “Pretty embarrassed in myself from that performance. You never get it back. I’m disappointed in myself with how that went. “I’m really disappointed with how that went. Hixon finished fourth, 10 points out of a second consecutive individual berth.
The top two divers qualified for the Olympics. He started it in third trailing Campbell by less than a point. “I’ve been lucky to have such great synchro partners,” Hixon said. “I’ve been saying I’m just the bridge between two great divers.”Īfter Friday’s synchro finals, Hixon turned his attention to Sunday’s individual final. It’s tradition that when someone makes their first Olympic team, a former member will bestow their Olympic ring. I think Sammy still feels like he’s part of the team, and rightfully so,” Hixon said. His former synchro partner Dorman also saluted him and Capobianco. “Those are most likely the last dives I’ll ever do in the United States,” Michael Hixon said. “It was special to have my mom there since she was my first coach.”
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Though the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis wasn’t at full capacity, Hixon’s parents Mandy Hixon - the longtime UMass diving coach - and dad Dave Hixon, the former men’s basketball coach at Amherst College, were both in attendance to see their son become an Olympian for the second time. We’re going to have to hit the last dive.”
I guarantee you we’re not going to be in a situation in the Olympics where we have a lot of space from the teams beneath us. For us, it was important to have a good performance there. It’s a lot like it’s going to be in Tokyo. “You’re still in an environment where there’s a ton of pressure. “You don’t want to make an Olympic team on a dive you do for threes. That’s not a great look,” Hixon said. Though Hixon and Capobianco didn’t need it as they already had more points than second-place Gregory Duncan and Grayson Campbell before ascending the ladder, they finished the list with a flourish and sent themselves to Tokyo in style. They maintained that focus through their last - and most challenging - dive: 109C, a forward dive with four and a half turns in the tuck position. Trying to get him to focus on the diving was what it was all about.” “I think we were both pretty nervous but I had been there before, Andrew hadn’t. For us it was about going out in the prelims and semis and creating some space,” said the 26-year old Hixon. They eventually won the silver medal in Rio De Janeiro later that summer. The entire experience was new for Capobianco, competing in his first Olympic Trials. He and Sam Dorman occupied a similar position in 2016. “As long as they hit the water, they’re going to Tokyo,” NBC commentator Ted Robinson said. They led by nearly 100 points with a dive to go. It grew to the point of insurmountable as the list progressed. The Amherst native and his partner Andrew Capobianco built a large lead entering Friday’s men’s 3-meter synchronized final. Michael Hixon likely dove professionally for the last time on United States soil at the US Olympic Trials last week.
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