Former COM Aquatics Diver and Olympic Hopeful Wins NCAA National Championship

The Olympics may be closer for one COM Aquatics diver after winning a national championship.

According to the Midland Reporter-Telegram, Tarrin Gilliland is the Olympic hopeful form Midland who just won the 2021 NCAA Division I National Championship in the platform.

Gilliland is a freshman at Indiana University and just became only the third woman from the university to win the national title in the platform.

This was an extra special win for Gilliland after finishing 7th in the platform at the 2021 Big Ten Championships.

“I was just dealing with a lot of injuries during the time,” Gilliland said. “I had a stress fracture months ago and I was in a boot for a while. Right after that, after I got out of the boot, I sprained my ankle again, so I had to get back into the boot. So my degree of difficulty was lower than anybody else’s so that’s why it was a surprise.”

Gilliland said she had to focus on herself and not worry about the other girls even though her synchronized diving partner placed second.

“I think the adrenaline of that helped me hit the dive often, do it well. It was fun. I know my synchro partner Delaney Schnell had a chance to pass me and she did a wonderful last dive. The judges didn’t give it to her unfortunately. I know she’s happy for me and I’m happy for her and I think we’re going to do well in the future at Olympic Trials.”

Gilliland is confident she can shoot for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team in 2024.