Sarah Bacon was ready to call it quits after failing to qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Never mind that the former Gophers diver already had established herself as the most decorated diver in the history the program. The ultimate goal was always becoming an Olympian, so when she came up short of that, she seriously considered retirement.

After moving to Texas with her boyfriend ready to start their next chapter in life, however, Bacon found herself thinking about the unfinished business she had with the sport she loved. They moved back to Minnesota shortly thereafter and Bacon started training once again.

The decision paid off as Bacon is now readying herself for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

The milestone moment last month was filled with emotion as Bacon cried tears of joy with her diving partner Kassidy Cook after they punched their ticket in the 3-meter synchronized diving competition. Not long after that, Bacon composed herself, then earned spot individually in the 3-meter springboard.

As he reflected on the accomplishment last week Gophers diving coach Wenbo Chen spoke with an immense amount of pride about Bacon.

“She deserves this because she’s worked extremely hard,” Chen said. “She never gave up, and now she’s an Olympian.”

The first time Chen saw Bacon was nearly 20 years ago when he was the associate director for USA Diving’s National Training Center in Indianapolis. He knew right away she had the potential to be something special.

“I knew she had the talent,” Chen said. “She has all the physical skills. She also has all the mental skills. She had everything needed to be at the top level.”

After getting hired by the Gophers about 15 years ago, Chen eventually found himself recruiting Bacon. It helped that they already had a relationship dating back to their time together at the USA Diving’s National Training Center.

“I said, ‘If you come here, I can help you become an Olympian,’ ” Chen said. “She believed me, and she came to Minnesota.”

Though she was already a rising star in diving, Bacon reached another stratosphere with the Gophers. She was a force to be reckoned with from the onset of her career and never looked back. She went on to win five NCAA titles in total.

The competition schedule for Bacon at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris will be spread out. She starts her pursuit of a medal at 4 a.m. local time Saturday in the 3-meter synchronized. She will then have to wait more than a week before competing in the 3-meter springboard.

“This is what she’s been working for,” Chen said. “I’m happy she can call herself an Olympian.”

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