Pakhalina Captures Second Silver Medal in Beijing
8/17/2008 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Aug. 17, 2008
BEIJING, CHINA -Cougar alumna Yulia Pakhalina captured silver in the women's 3-meter springboard diving event Sunday to capture her second silver medal at the Beijing Olympic Games .
Pakhalina, who competes for Russia, recorded a score of 398.60 points, 16.75 points behind gold-medallist Guo Jingjing of China.
This is Pakhalina's second silver medal at the Beijing Olympic Games. Her first came in the women's synchronized 3-meter springboard event, where she paired up with teammate and current Cougar Anastasia Pozdnyakova.
Former Cougar Tania Cagnotto finished fifth and was shy 40.65 points to recieve a medal in the event.
While Cagnotto only competed at Houston for one season, she set a UH and C-USA record by being named C-USA Diver of the Week nine times and swept all three diving events at the 2006 C-USA Championship. She was just the second diver in C-USA history to win all three diving events at one championship meet, joining Pakhalina who accomplished the feat in 2002.
Pakhalina took home bronze in the 3-meter springboard and silver in synchronized diving at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. She also was a gold medalist in synchronized diving in Sydney in 2000.
While at Houston, Pakhalina was a five-time NCAA individual national champion in the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard. She also recorded 36 consecutive wins in collegiate competition and was an 11-time C-USA Diver of the Week.
Houston diving coach Jane Figueiredo is an assistant coach for the Russian team for the third time, including in 2000 and 2004. She also was an assistant coach for Great Britain in 1996 and competed as a diver in the 1984 Olympics in Portugal.
Players Mentioned
