How strong is the Duke presence? So strong that one of the headlines on FoxSports’ site has a title that says exactly that. And it is not an article about Coach K.
It is about the US Olympic divers. Duke has two members on the diving team (along with the coach), and both have a legitimate chance to win medals. Check out the article on Nick McCrory (who will compete in two events) and Abby Johnston.
Johnston gets going on Sunday (July 29th) in the 3m synchronized finals. The finals begin at 10am ET (3pm London time) and will be televised later Sunday night on NBC (7pm-midnight).
McCrory gets started on Monday (July 30th) with the 10m synchronized finals at 10am ET (3pm London time). It will be televised on NBC sometime between 8pm and midnight.
He will be back in action on August 10th in the 10m platform preliminaries. They begin at 2pm ET (7pm London time) and will be broadcast on NBC (8pm-midnight). If McCrory qualifies, the semifinals will be held on August 11th at 5am ET (10am London time) with the finals at 3pm ET (8pm London time). The 10m platform final will be shown on NBC from 8pm-midnight.
Coach K will be coaching the favored US team in London. The US kicks off their Olympic schedule on Sunday (July 29th) against France at 9:30am ET. However two of his former players will be competing in the Olympics.
Luol Deng is a member of the British team. The hometown team begins their Olympic schedule on Sunday (July 29th) against Russia at 3pm ET. Deng is in Group B, while the US is in Group A.
Marty Pocius is a member of the Lithuanian team. They kick off their Olympic schedule on Sunday (July 29th) against Argentina at 5:15pm ET. Lithuania is in Group A and Pocius will face his former coach on August 4th.
Rebecca Smith is a member of New Zealand’s women’s soccer team (she captained the Duke team back during her playing days from 1999-2003). They lost to Great Britain on July 25th, 1-0. On July 28th, they lost to Brazil, 1-0. New Zealand’s final game will come on July 31st against Cameroon as part of Group E.
Duke has two track and field participants in the the London Games. Shannon Rowbury will be running the women’s 1500m for the US. She finished 7th in the 2008 Beijing Olympics (the highest finish ever for an American woman in that event). She also earned the bronze in the World Championships.
She begins her medal quest on August 6th in the quarterfinals at 6:45am ET (11:45am London time). It will air on NBC from 10-10:30 am and 4:30-5pm. Follow along with Shannon via Twitter and her blog.
Jillian Schwartz will be competing for Israel in pole vault. She finished fourth in the 2008 US Olympic trials and decided to retire. However the urge to jump came back and she will be competing for Israel.
Qualification begins on August 4th at 5:20am ET (10:20am London time). It will air on NBC from 11:15-11:45am. If she qualifies, the finals are on August 6th at 2pm ET (7pm London time). The finals will air on NBC from 4:30-5pm.
*For entire Olympic coverage, check out our Olympic site, Going for the Gold.
