GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Kyndal Knight and her siblings have been swimming since they were kids. Growing up in Mount Holly, the family spent summers at the neighborhood pool. 

Throughout high school, Knight fell in love with gymnastics. She made the local club team and was doing well competing until she was injured. 

Knight says she hit a mental block when she couldn't get past her injury. Her older sister had dipped into diving and was doing well. That's when the diving coach tried to talk Knight into diving, but she didn't want to do the same thing as her older sister. 

Finally, after a few pushes from her family, Knight tried diving and fell in love with the sport. 

"I love how much of a mental sport it is," Knight said. 

Knight continued her love for diving into college. She emailed several college diving coaches and got a response back from Kentucky Coach Ted Hautau. Hautau was driving through town and said he would be happy to meet with her. 

This past summer, Knight made the Olympic trials in Indianapolis. 

“So we went to Indianapolis in June for Olympic trials and basically those are 100 of the best divers in the country, male and female. The top two people make the Olympics,” she said.

Knight placed 14th during the trials. Instead of being upset, she said it was a learning experience.

“It was such a fun time. I didn’t go in expecting to make the Olympics, I just wanted to be there and compete with those divers. Just being there was such a good opportunity and competing with the next Olympian or competing with past Olympians," Knight said. 

Knight is home for a few weeks this summer as her sister is set to get married. She was able to to watch the men and women she competed against in Indiana on national television and support them from her Mount Holly home. 

“And hopefully in three more years, I’ll take my shot again and maybe be one of the top divers in the nation," Knight said.