Long road leads to Olympic silver for U.S. divers Sarah Bacon, Kassidy Cook: ‘Surreal’

Can you take me through your morning today, how you slept last night, everything you did to prepare for this morning? 

Bacon: So surprisingly we, Kassidy and I, both slept extremely well last night. Even with the Opening Ceremony going on last night that we didn’t get to attend because we knew that rest at this point was going to be more important for us leading into our competition today. So we got dressed up, took some Opening Ceremony pictures around the Village with the athletes, but didn’t actually attend the ceremony. We were in our dorms around 8 o’clock resting our legs and then went to bed, lights out around 9. Our roommates were amazing and came home very quiet, did not wake either of us up, so we got a very good night of sleep. Woke up around 6:30ish, 6ish, did some recovery stuff for the first 30 minutes when we got up and then ate a good breakfast, then headed to the pool, warmed up, heated.

They kept showing your families and cheering section on the TV broadcast. Were you guys able to hear them at all when you were out there? 

Cook: Oh yeah, we heard those USA chants and the “Go Kass,” “Go Sarah,” “Cook’N Bacon.” I think that just brings a smile to my face on the board and helps me feel a little bit, like, OK, no matter what happens my family’s still going to love me, and then that makes me feel more comfortable. 

Bacon: Yeah, it’s like a little piece of home. We’re standing up there on that board. The one name that I could hear cheering for us was Kassidy’s dad. I don’t know why he stuck out, but her dad I could hear, for sure. 

Having that family support, not just today but during training leading up to the Olympics, what does that mean to you all? 

Cook: They always say it takes a village and it’s a cliché, but it’s very true. I’ve made a lot of personal sacrifices, but my family has as well, so this medal is every bit of theirs as it is mine. I grew up with five brothers and sisters, and they’re all just so supportive of me no matter where they are at in life. They made the trip out here. Most of my sisters are married and have kids under three years old and they still made this trip out here, so their support truly means everything. Like I said, it takes a village and this is their celebration as well.   

Bacon: I also grew up with three brothers, so they were all able to come out here. My little nephew was able to come, all my brother’s wives, my mom, my dad, my boyfriend. So just having them here being able to share this moment with me, I could not be happier that they were able to make the trip out here, come out here and cheer for me.