INDIANAPOLIS — A teen from St. Louis qualified for an Olympic diving event with Team USA.
Tyler Downs, 17, earned his ticket to Tokyo in the 3m springboard final at the diving trials in Indianapolis Sunday night.
Downs was born in St. Louis and his hometown is Ballwin.
The video above is from a 5 On Your Side interview with Downs when he was 12 years old.
Downs is a TikTok star with half a million followers. He dances and dives in his short-form videos.
Downs was nicknamed the "dancing diver." He was anticipated to be more of a candidate for the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024 but proved himself Sunday night.
In springboard, Downs beat out David Boudia, who is Downs' favorite diver.
Boudia won the gold medal in 10-meter platform diving in 2012 and bronze for that event in 2016.
Boudia enthusiastically congratulated Downs after beating him out.
Downs was also in the finals for the platform diving event.
Downs is the youngest of seven children.
The Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony is July 23. 5 On Your Side is your home for all the Olympics action.
"I had no expectations coming into this competition," Downs told NBC after the springboard final.
"I’m only 17 years old. I still have so much to go for, but making the Olympic team at 17, it’s unreal," he said before finding his mom in the crowd.
5 On Your Side has followed Downs' journey to becoming an Olympian over the last several years. You can watch a story we did with him when he was 12 years old and when he was 16 years old here.
More Team USA Olympians will be named in the gymnastics trials in St. Louis. The 2021 United States Olympic Gymnastics Team Trials will take place Thursday-Sunday, June 24-27.
The events will be held at The Dome and tickets are available to watch athletes like Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles.
