Diving into Glory: Arizona’s Delaney Schnell Concludes Second Olympic Journey

Delaney Schnell’s journey to becoming a two-time Olympian was evident early on. Her mother, Cindy Feaman, recalled a moment during middle school cross country when Schnell’s determination shone through. She spotted a trophy and, motivated, ran the race hard, finishing second.

Having grown up in Tucson and competed for the Arizona Wildcats, Schnell has always carried that drive. She participated in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, winning a silver medal in the synchronized 10-meter dive with Jessica Parratto. In the recent Paris Games, Schnell again competed in the 10-meter synchronized dive and the individual 10-meter platform dive. She and Parratto placed sixth in the synchronized dive, while Schnell advanced past the preliminary round in the individual category but finished 15th in the semifinals.

Despite the outcomes, Schnell relished the Paris Games experience, particularly the unique opening ceremony on the Seine River. The U.S. sent 594 athletes, the largest contingent, further amplifying the grandeur of the event for Schnell.

Schnell’s athletic background also includes gymnastics, a sport she initially pursued before switching to diving. Her sister believed she had Olympic potential in gymnastics, and Schnell herself enjoyed the sport’s artistic elements. This love for gymnastics helped her transition smoothly into diving.

Her diving career quickly progressed. Schnell represented the U.S. in international events and competed for the University of Arizona under coach Dwight Dumais, who also guided her through both Olympic journeys. The Tokyo and Paris Games offered starkly different experiences. Tokyo’s events, held under stringent COVID-19 restrictions, lacked the cheering crowds, making Paris’s atmosphere far more electric by comparison.

Family dynamics during the Olympics also differed. Schnell’s family couldn’t attend the Tokyo Games in person and instead watched from Orlando. In Paris, however, a few family members traveled to see her compete, which they found less nerve-wracking, having the chance to be with her between events.

Moving forward, Schnell, now 25, is completing a master’s degree in clinical speech-language pathology. Parratto, at 30, is the oldest diver in Team USA. Reflecting on their achievements, Parratto expressed pride despite not medaling this time: “Our Olympic silver medal and world medal are accomplishments we cherish. Today wasn’t our day, but we’re proud of each other.”