Recent High School Grad Representing U.S. In Olympics

Most 18-year-olds spend their first summer after high school graduation smoking heaters, drinking beers, and coming up with excuses as to why they have to call off from their part-time job. 18-year-old Hailey Hernandez is not like most recent high school grads.

As fellow classmates were cannonballing into pools throughout town, the Southlake,TX native spent her Saturday afternoon in Indianapolis securing a spot on the U.S. Olympic diving team. Hernandez earned her spot by finishing in second place in the finals of the Women’s 3-meter springboard competition. A four-time Texas state diving champion, Hernandez joins the U.S. Olympic team that will compete in next month’s Tokyo Olympics.

 

NBC reporter Kelli Stavast caught up with Hernandez following today’s competition. “This is so unreal. I’m at a loss of words right now. I’m just so excited”. Said Hernandez.

Hailey is slated to compete for the red, white, and blue on July 30th in Tokyo. Following her first Olympic appearance, Hernandez will begin classes at the University of Texas at the end of August. She’ll compete on the Women’s Swimming and Diving team. It’s a safe bet that the incoming freshman won’t have to tryout for the squad.

If her high school graduating class didn’t vote her Most Likely To Succeed, maybe they got to the beer and heaters a little early.