South Carolina’s Olympians relish Rio experiences

The 2016 Rio Olympic Games were a breakthrough for USC junior diver Julia Vincent and sophomore sprinter Aliyah Abrams.

Vincent finished 29th in the women’s 3-meter springboard event, representing her native country of South Africa. Abrams finished 38th in the women’s 400m as a member of Team Guyana, where her parents were born.

Their Olympic experiences were similar.

Both joined their USC coaches in Rio and impressed them. Diving coach Todd Sherritt made his fourth Olympic appearance as the coach of South Africa. USC track & field coach Curtis Frye oversaw Team USA’s sprint and hurdle competitors.

Frye said Abrams has the potential to medal in future Olympics.

“I’ve got a sophomore here, so it’s exciting to see her get a run in. Her run was better than Natasha (Hastings) was early on, when she was that young in the World Championships,” Frye said of the USC alum who was a part of the gold-medal winning women’s 4x400m relay team.

Sherritt said he and Vincent experienced several missed flights and train delays on their trips to Rio, but Vincent handled it and adjusted quickly.

“Then, of course, the green pools made it even more of a problem to adjust to,” Sherritt said.

Vincent has the Olympics imprinted in her mind and on her body. After returning home from the Games, the 2015 All-American got a tattoo of the Olympic Rings on her arm.

“I told my mom years ago that if I went to the Olympics, I was getting the Olympic tattoo,” Vincent said. “It’s just to remind me where I’ve been and sort of give me the strength to keep going because I know I’ve got a lot more in me.”

Vincent and Abrams lived in the Olympic Village and interacted with several other athletes. Vincent met Team USA star gymnast Simone Biles.

“A lot of people are really friendly,” Abrams said. “There was not one bad experience I had.”

Abrams and Vincent are using their experiences in Rio as motivation in their upcoming seasons at USC.

“It was so much motivation and so much encouragement,” Abrams said. “It was just like I know I can be as great as I think I can be.”