UNC’s first diving national champion took a step closer to an Olympic medal at Paris

Former UNC diver Aranza Vazquez placed third overall in the Paris Olympics 3-meter springboard preliminary round on Wednesday, logging a score of 321.75 to advance to Thursday’s semifinals.

Competing for her native Mexico, Vazquez was dominant from the start on Wednesday.

In her second dive, she recorded a 69.75 with a strong throw off the board and quickly getting into her pike. The score ended up being the highest of the second round and propelled her toward the top of the leaderboard.

After the third round, UNC and Team Mexico diving coach Yaidel Gamboa pumped his fist on the side of the pool following another high score – 64.50 on 2 ½ somersaults.

Vazquez has been supported not only by Gamboa, but also fellow UNC Olympian Patrick Hussey and her teammates back in North Carolina.

“Leading up to the Olympics, my training, being able to stay in North Carolina and keep practicing with my team helped a lot,” Vazquez said. “My friends and everyone have just been texting me and wishing me the best so it’s been great. North Carolina has my heart, so it’s been amazing.”

UNC alumna Aranza Vazquez eyes diving medal in second trip to Olympic Games

During her Olympic debut in Tokyo in 2021 when pandemic rules kept spectators out, Vazquez finished sixth in the finals in the women’s 3-meter springboard competition for Team Mexico. One of the biggest differences Vazquez has seen between the two games is how much of a difference the crowd support makes in her dives.

“There’s a lot of Mexican people here, and it’s incredible,” Vazquez said. “We feel the support and it’s just incredible. It’s a great feeling knowing that even if they’re not family or the closest to us, they still support the Mexican athletes which is incredible.”

During her first games, Vazquez was only 18 years old. During the past four years, she focused on improving her mental game outside of the pool, including putting less pressure on herself to perform at her best all the time.

“A lot of positive talk has been like playing a lot in my preparation for this,” Vazquez said. “Just trusting myself, knowing that I’ve done these dives 1000s of times and I’ve done them well.”

While at UNC, Vazquez racked up four NCAA titles, All-American honors and was named the 2023 ACC women’s diver of the year.

Next on her list? An Olympic gold.

“It would be incredible if it happens,” Vazquez said. “At this point, it’s all in God’s hands. If it happens, I’ll be happy and if it doesn’t, but I did a great dive and a great competition, I’ll be happy with the result. I’m just trying to enjoy everything and at the end, if it’s meant to be that’s incredible.”

Maya Waid is a student with UNC Media Hub, a program with the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media, reporting from the Summer Olympics in Paris.