University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
USA Diving Honors Bacon with Wendy Wyland Award
12/30/2019 10:10:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
MINNEAPOLIS - Gopher diver and 2020 Olympic hopeful Sarah Bacon received the 2019 Wendy Wyland Memorial Award of Excellence over the weekend, as announced by USA Diving.
Â
Created in the memory of the 1984 Olympic bronze medalist with the same name, the award recognizes a diver who represents the following qualities: a love for the sport; extremely hard working; exceptional competitive ability; courage in dealing with adversity; ability to come back from injury or illness; a never quit attitude; respect for fellow competitors; and performance beyond expectations.
Â
Throughout much of the past decade, Bacon's tireless work ethic has allowed her to overcome recurring adversity. During her high school years, she endured countless stress fractures in her back, but that did not keep Bacon from rising to the rank of state champion in both 2013 and 2014.
Â
In July of 2018, Bacon encountered yet another roadblock when she was forced to undergo shoulder surgery prior to her junior campaign at Minnesota. Despite the potential setback, Bacon repeated as NCAA Champion in the 1-meter during the 2018-19 season, while also being named Big Ten Diver of the Year.
Â
Having made a career out of bouncing back and rising to the top of the sport, it is no surprise to see Bacon bring home the 2019 Wendy Wyland Award. If there was any doubt, the Indianapolis native erased it with a series of world class performances in the diving well over the past six months.
Â
Since July, Bacon has been crowned a Pan American Games gold medalist (1-meter), a FINA World Championships silver medalist (1-meter), a Pan Am Games silver medalist (synchronized 3-meter) and earlier this month, a USA Diving Winter Nationals gold medalist (synchronized 3-meter). With her silver medal at FINA Worlds in Gwangju, Bacon became the first American female diver to win an individual world medal in 14 years.
Â
Bacon is set to compete in the 2020 FINA World Cup in Tokyo, which will take place in April. The World Cup will be the last opportunity for Bacon and her peers to qualify for the upcoming 2020 Olympics.
Â
Â
Created in the memory of the 1984 Olympic bronze medalist with the same name, the award recognizes a diver who represents the following qualities: a love for the sport; extremely hard working; exceptional competitive ability; courage in dealing with adversity; ability to come back from injury or illness; a never quit attitude; respect for fellow competitors; and performance beyond expectations.
Â
Throughout much of the past decade, Bacon's tireless work ethic has allowed her to overcome recurring adversity. During her high school years, she endured countless stress fractures in her back, but that did not keep Bacon from rising to the rank of state champion in both 2013 and 2014.
Â
In July of 2018, Bacon encountered yet another roadblock when she was forced to undergo shoulder surgery prior to her junior campaign at Minnesota. Despite the potential setback, Bacon repeated as NCAA Champion in the 1-meter during the 2018-19 season, while also being named Big Ten Diver of the Year.
Â
Having made a career out of bouncing back and rising to the top of the sport, it is no surprise to see Bacon bring home the 2019 Wendy Wyland Award. If there was any doubt, the Indianapolis native erased it with a series of world class performances in the diving well over the past six months.
Â
Since July, Bacon has been crowned a Pan American Games gold medalist (1-meter), a FINA World Championships silver medalist (1-meter), a Pan Am Games silver medalist (synchronized 3-meter) and earlier this month, a USA Diving Winter Nationals gold medalist (synchronized 3-meter). With her silver medal at FINA Worlds in Gwangju, Bacon became the first American female diver to win an individual world medal in 14 years.
Â
Bacon is set to compete in the 2020 FINA World Cup in Tokyo, which will take place in April. The World Cup will be the last opportunity for Bacon and her peers to qualify for the upcoming 2020 Olympics.
Â
Follow Swim & Dive
Support Swim & Dive
Support the University of Minnesota Swim & Dive program. Your support helps our student-athletes succeed athletically, academically, and socially. It takes just seconds to make a monthly or one-time donation. Thank you for your support! Give Now
Vivi Del Angel Wins NCAA Bronze
Monday, March 24
Del Angel Earns B1G Platform Diving Silver
Saturday, February 22
Vivi Del Angel Wins NCAA Title
Monday, March 25
Megan Van Berkom Wins 400 IM
Monday, February 26