{{Short description|American diver (born 1994)}} {{Use mdy dates|date = July 2021}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Michael Hixon | country = {{USA}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|7|16}} | birth_place = Amherst, Massachusetts, U.S.<ref name="team usa bio">{{cite web|url=http://youtholympicgames.teamusa.org/athletes/michael-hixon |title=Michael Hixon |work=United States Olympic Committee |accessdate=September 9, 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728083120/http://youtholympicgames.teamusa.org/athletes/michael-hixon |archivedate=July 28, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | height = {{convert|5|ft|8|in|cm}} | event = 3 meter springboard, 3 meter springboard synchro | coach = {{hlist|Mandy Hixon|Drew Johansen}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.idsnews.com/article/2016/07/hixons-olympic-dream-coming-true |title=Michael Hixon's Olympic dreams coming true |date=July 24, 2016 |first= Andrew |last=Hussey |work=Indiana Daily Student }}</ref> | collegeteam = University of Texas at Austin<br/>Indiana University Bloomington | medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{USA}}}} {{MedalSport|Men's diving}} {{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}} {{MedalSilver|2016 Rio de Janeiro|3 m synchro}} {{MedalSilver|2020 Tokyo|3 m synchro}} {{MedalCompetition|World Championships}} {{MedalBronze|2015 Kazan|1 m springboard}} {{MedalCompetition|Youth Olympic Games}} {{MedalBronze|2010 Singapore|3 m springboard}} {{MedalCompetition|Pan American Games}} {{MedalBronze|2019 Lima|3 m synchro}} }} '''Michael Hixon''' (born July 16, 1994) is an American diver. He is a two-time Olympic medalist, having won the silver medal with Sam Dorman in the men's synchronized 3-meter springboard event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and the silver medal with Andrew Capobianco at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo in the same event.
==Early life and education== Hixon was born on July 16, 1994, in Amherst, Massachusetts, to Mandy and David Hixon. He has an older brother, Matthew.<ref name="bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.teamusa.org/usa-diving/athletes/Michael-Hixon|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420070231/http://www.teamusa.org/usa-diving/athletes/Michael-Hixon|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 20, 2016|title=Michael Hixon Diving|work=Team USA}}</ref>
Hixon's parents have both coached in American collegiate sports. His father was the head coach for the men's basketball team at Amherst College.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 13, 2020 |title=Legendary Amherst College Men’s Basketball Coach David Hixon '75 to Retire |url=https://www.amherst.edu/news/press-releases/node/768804 |access-date=July 28, 2021 |publisher=Amherst College}}</ref><ref name="Texas">{{Cite web |last=Maloof |first=Denise |date=March 29, 2014 |title=Texas' Hixon credits mom for pool success |url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/swimming-men/article/2014-03-29/born-swim |access-date=July 28, 2021 |website=NCAA}}</ref> His mother, an All-American diver at Ohio State University, helped foster his interest in diving after he joined her at a diving practice while she was a diving coach at Amherst College. Soon after, she became his personal coach,<ref name="Texas"/> and he began entering competitions two years later.<ref name="masslive.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.masslive.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/03/amherst_teenage_diver_puts_201.html|author=Bill Wells|work=The Republican|title=Amherst teenage diver puts 2016 Summer Games on radar|date=March 27, 2010|accessdate=September 9, 2010}}</ref> Growing up, Hixon was also involved in basketball, football, and lacrosse, but after foregoing them in high school, he committed to diving full-time.<ref name="Texas"/>
He graduated from Amherst Regional High School in 2013.<ref name="republican">{{cite news|author=Remillard|first=Jason|date=August 23, 2010|title=Amherst's Michael Hixon captures bronze medal in diving at Youth Olympic Games|work=The Republican|url=http://www.masslive.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/08/amhersts_michael_hixon_capture.html|access-date=September 9, 2010|accessdate=}}</ref> In 2013, he enrolled at the University of Texas in Austin, but in July 2014, he was granted a release by the university, after which he transferred to Indiana University in Bloomington, citing desire for a program that would be a better fit.<ref>{{cite news|date=July 9, 2014|title=Two-Time NCAA Champion Michael Hixon Leaving Texas, Intends on Enrolling at Indiana|work=Swimming World Magazine|url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/two-time-ncaa-champion-michael-hixon-leaving-texas-intends-on-enrolling-at-indiana/}}</ref><ref name="hoosiers">{{cite web|title=Michael Hixon|url=http://iuhoosiers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7455|work=IU Hoosiers}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 30, 2014 |title=Morning Swim Show: Michael Hixon Finding Perfect Fit at Indiana |url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/morning-swim-show-michael-hixon-finding-perfect-fit-indiana/ |access-date=July 28, 2021 |website=Swimming World}}</ref>
Hixon enrolled at the University of Michigan{{'}}s Ross School of Business in 2020 for his Master of Business Administration (MBA). To train for the 2020 Summer Olympics, he agreed to become a volunteer assistant coach for the Michigan Wolverines swimming and diving team in order to use the pool facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref name="business_school">{{Cite news |last=Grabowski |first=Kyle |date=July 26, 2021 |title=Olympics: Michael Hixon balanced business school, diving practice amidst pandemic to qualify for Tokyo games |work=Daily Hampshire Gazette |url=https://www.gazettenet.com/Michael-Hixon-balanced-Michigan-business-school-with-preparing-for-Olympics-41617546 |access-date=July 28, 2021}}</ref>
==Diving career== ===2007–2010: Junior championships=== Hixon began diving at the national level when he was 12 and won the 1-meter competition at the national championships three years running.<ref name="masslive.com"/> Hixon is a six-time junior U.S. champion,<ref>{{cite news|author=USA Diving|author-link=USA Diving|title=Four divers earn the right to compete in Youth Olympic Games qualifier|url=http://www.usadiving.org/05redesign/main/news_02_04_10.htm|date=February 4, 2010|accessdate=September 9, 2010}}</ref> and won two bronze medals, in the 1 meter and 3 meter events, at the 2009 Junior Pan-American Diving Championships in Calgary.<ref name="masslive.com"/>
He subsequently paired with Kristian Ipsen to win a silver at the 2010 FINA World Junior Diving Championships in Tucson, Arizona, in the 3 meter synchronized springboard event,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usadiving.org/05redesign/main/news_09_02_10.htm|title=Team USA adds two more medals at FINA World Junior Diving Championships|date=September 2, 2010|author=USA Diving|accessdate=September 9, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728150509/http://www.usadiving.org/05redesign/main/news_09_02_10.htm|archive-date=July 28, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> but only managed a tenth-place finish in the 3 meter solo event.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://secure.meetcontrol.com/divemeets/system/eventresultsext.php?meetnum=742&eventnum=1430&eventtype=9|title=18th FINA Junior Diving World Championships Results|publisher=USA Diving|accessdate=September 9, 2010}}</ref>
====2010 Summer Youth Olympics==== Hixon won in the 3 meter springboard event at a national selection camp and qualified for Youth Olympic trials in Guadalajara, Mexico, where he won a bronze medal and thus secured a spot to represent the United States at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in the 3 meter springboard event.<ref name=qual>{{cite news|author=USA Diving|url=http://www.usadiving.org/05redesign/main/news_03_12_10.htm|title=Hixon, Lenz headed to Youth Olympic Games after winning bronze at qualifier|date=March 14, 2010|accessdate=September 9, 2010}}</ref>
The event in the first-ever Youth Olympics in Singapore consisted of a 15-man preliminary round and an eight-man final round. After the ten-dive preliminary round, Hixon carried over enough points into the final to begin the final round in third.<ref name="FINA">{{cite news|url=http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1635:yog-singapore-2010-day-8-bo-qiu-earns-second-gold-for-china-tom-daley-gbr-finishes-ninth&catid=205:youth-olympic-games&Itemid=515|title=YOG Singapore 2010, Day 9: Bo Qiu earns second gold for China, Tom Daley (GBR) finishes ninth |author=Pedro Adreg|work=FINA|accessdate=September 9, 2010}}</ref> Although he was sixth after his first dive in the final<ref name="usoc">{{cite news|url=http://youtholympicgames.teamusa.org/news/2010/08/22/bronze-for-hixon/38121|title=Bronze for Hixon|author=Lisa Ramsperger|date=August 22, 2010|work=United States Olympic Committee|accessdate=September 9, 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100903062844/http://youtholympicgames.teamusa.org/news/2010/08/22/bronze-for-hixon/38121|archivedate=September 3, 2010}}</ref> and fourth heading into his final dive, a poor dive by Italy's Giovanni Tocci allowed Hixon to claim bronze on his final dive,<ref name="FINA"/> finishing with a score of 554.65 points behind Qiu Bo of China and Oleksandr Bondar of Ukraine.<ref name="republican"/><ref name="today">{{cite news|work=TODAYonline|author=Tan Yo-Hinn|title=Qiu Bo lights up Toa Payoh|date=August 23, 2010|accessdate=September 9, 2010|url=http://www.todayonline.com/YOG/EDC100823-0000072/Qiu-Bo-lights-up-Toa-Payoh|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826091409/http://www.todayonline.com/YOG/EDC100823-0000072/Qiu-Bo-lights-up-Toa-Payoh|archivedate=August 26, 2010}}</ref>
===2011=== At the 2011 US National Championships, Hixon captured the senior men 1-meter springboard title at the UCLA's Spieker Aquatics Center in Los Angeles.<ref>Beth Harris, [http://www.ajc.com/sports/livingston-finchum-win-10livingston-finchum-win-10-1103346.html Hixon wins 1-meter title at US diving nationals], ''Associated Press'' via ''Atlanta Journal Constitution'', August 12, 2011</ref>
===2013=== Hixon won silver in the 3-meter synchro with Darian Schmidt at the 2013 AT&T National Diving Championships.<ref name="ncaa">{{cite news|last=Maloof|first=Denise|date=March 29, 2014|title=Born to swim|work=NCAA.com|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/swimming-men/article/2014-03-29/born-swim}}</ref> Hixon qualified for his first senior international competition, the 2013 World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona, with Troy Dumais, and finished fifth in the men's 3-meter synchronized event.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bowker|first=Paul D.|date=July 23, 2013|title=Amherst's Michael Hixon and partner Troy Dumais finish fifth in synchronized diving at FINA World Aquatics Championships|work=Masslive|url=http://www.masslive.com/sports/2013/07/amhersts_michael_hixon_and_par.html}}</ref>
===2014=== Hixon won the NCAA Division I men's swimming and diving championships titles on both the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard events in 2014.<ref name="ncaa" />
===2015=== In the 2015 World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, Hixon won bronze in the men's 1-meter dive.<ref>{{citation|last=Woods|first=David|title=IU diver wins bronze in Swimming World Championships|date=July 28, 2015|url=http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/2015/07/27/iu-diver-wins-bronze-diving-world-championships/30758923/|work=Indy Star}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=July 27, 2015|title=Michael Hixon wins bronze on 1-meter at FINA World Championships|url=http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Diving/News/2015/July/27/Michael-Hixon-wins-bronze-on-1meter-at-FINA-World-Championships|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504220515/http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Diving/News/2015/July/27/Michael-Hixon-wins-bronze-on-1meter-at-FINA-World-Championships|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 4, 2016|work=Team USA}}</ref>
===2016=== Hixon won the 1-meter springboard at the 2016 USA Diving Winter National Championship.<ref name="hoosiers" />
====Summer Olympics==== [[File:BRITÂNICOS VENCEM E BRASILEIROS TERMINAM EM ÚLTIMO NO TRAMPOLIM DE 3M SINCRONIZADO DOS SALTOS ORNAMENTAIS (28282473794).jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Hixon (left) and Sam Dorman (right) at the 2016 Summer Olympics]] Hixon qualified for and represented the United States in both the 3-meter synchronized and men's individual 3-meter springboard events at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/kristian-ipsen-michael-hixon-qualify-rio-olympics-troy-dumais-misses-history |title=Ipsen, Hixon grab springboard spots; Dumais misses making fifth Olympics |date=June 25, 2016 |first=Rachel|last= Lutz|work=NBC Olympics }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.gazettenet.com/Dorman-Hixon-deal-big-blow-to-Dumais--Olympic-hopes-3018381 |title= Amherst native Michael Hixon teams with Samuel Dorman to qualify for Rio in men's 3M synchro |first=Michael|last= Marot | work=Daily Hampshire Gazette|date= June 23, 2016 }}</ref> He teamed up with Sam Dorman on the 3-metre synchro only after team changes in March 2016,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/olympics/rio-2016/2016/06/19/arizonan-sam-dorman-leads-olympic-diving-trials/86112660/ |title=Arizonan Sam Dorman leads at Olympic Diving Trials |first=Jeff |last=Metcalfe |date=June 19, 2016 |work=AZ Central }}</ref> but won the U.S. trials in their first competition together in June 2016.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/11-must-see-diving-videos-us-olympic-trials |title=11 must-see diving videos from U.S. Olympic Trials |first=Rachel |last=Lutz |date=July 11, 2016 |work=NBC Olympics}}</ref>
In the men's synchronized 3-meter springboard event, Hixon along with his diving partner Sam Dorman placed second and won the silver medal with a score of 450.21, behind Jack Laugher and Chris Mears of Great Britain (454.32) and ahead of the Chinese pair Qin Kai and Cao Yuan (443.70).<ref>{{cite news|last=Lancaster|first=Marc|date=August 10, 2016|title=Rio Olympics 2016: Sam Dorman, Michael Hixon take silver in synchronized diving|work=Sporting News|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/other-sports/news/rio-olympics-2016-sam-dorman-michael-hixon-silver-medal-synchronized-diving-3m-springboard/11fr3ta3hplip1bd4v8o504th5}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/olympics/rio-olympics-usa-s-sam-dorman-mike-hixon-win-silver-in-synchornized-3-meter-1.12160183 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813043433/http://www.newsday.com/sports/olympics/rio-olympics-usa-s-sam-dorman-mike-hixon-win-silver-in-synchornized-3-meter-1.12160183 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 13, 2016 |title=Rio Olympics: USA's Sam Dorman, Mike Hixon win silver in synchornized 3-meter|author=The Associated Press |work=Newsday }}</ref>
In the men's individual 3-meter springboard event, he finished 10th, while his former 3-meter synchro partner Kristian Ipsen placed fifth in the same event.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_30254978/olympics-stanfords-kristian-ipsen-fifth-diving |title=Olympics: Stanford's Kristian Ipsen fifth in diving|first= Elliott |last=Almond |date=August 16, 2016 |work=Mercury News }}</ref>
===2019=== Hixon and new partner Andrew Capobianco attended the 2019 World Aquatics Championships and placed eighth after the final round of the men's synchronized 3-meter springboard event, totaling 388.08.<ref>{{Cite web |title=18th FINA World Championships 2019 |url=https://www.fina.org/competitions/95/18th-fina-world-championships-2019/results?disciplines=DV&event=6cf27d12-554f-420a-af44-215a886b129b |access-date=July 28, 2021 |publisher=FINA}}</ref>
===2021=== Hixon understood that his score at the 2019 World Championships had not been high enough for him and Capobianco to automatically qualify for the Olympics, and he continued training in 2020 in preparation for trials, in spite of the narrowing chances that he would be able to attend the Olympics amid the COVID-19 pandemic when crucial meets had become postponed or cancelled. However, Hixon and Capobianco were unexpectedly chosen to represent the United States at the 2021 FINA Diving World Cup after fellow American pair David Boudia and Steele Johnson abruptly pulled out eight days prior to the start of the competition.<ref name="business_school"/> For the men's synchronized 3-meter springboard event, Hixon and Capobianco scored a total of 414.18, which landed them in fourth place and ensured their spot at the Olympics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FINA Diving World Cup 2021 |url=https://www.fina.org/competitions/11/fina-diving-world-cup-2021/results?event=78e8f5c5-53a7-4fe6-9602-4ac24c9ab778 |access-date=July 28, 2021 |publisher=FINA}}</ref><ref name=QualSystem>{{cite web|title=Diving Qualification System, Tokyo 2020 |url=https://www.fina.org/sites/default/files/general/final_-_2019-09-11_-_tokyo_2020_-_qualification_system_-_diving_-_eng.pdf|website=FINA|accessdate=23 January 2020}}</ref>
====Summer Olympics==== In June 2021, Hixon and Capobianco placed first in the United States Olympics diving trials for the men's synchronized 3-meter springboard event with a score of 1289.37.<ref name="TokyoTrials">{{Cite web |last=Rosen |first=Karen |date=June 12, 2021 |title=Hixon/Capobianco and Parratto/Schnell Make Olympic Team in Synchro Diving |url=https://www.teamusa.com/news/2021/june/12/hixon-capobiano-and-parratto-schnell-make-olympic-team-in-synchro-diving |access-date=July 28, 2021 |publisher=United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee}}</ref>
In the men's synchronized 3-meter springboard event, Hixon and Capobianco placed second and won the silver medal with a final score of 444.36, behind Wang Zongyuan and Xie Siyi of China (467.82), and ahead of Patrick Hausding and Lars Rüdiger of Germany (404.73). They stood in fifth place after performing their first two dives, and then placed second behind leaders Wang and Xie after the next two dives. Their fifth of the sixth dives were the best of the round, and their overall score of the six dives ultimately placed them second.<ref name="TokyoSilver">{{Cite web|last=Dure|first=Beau|date=July 28, 2021|title=Capobianco, Hixon add to U.S. divers' synchro success|url=https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/capobianco-hixon-add-us-divers-synchro-success|access-date=July 28, 2021|website=NBC Olympics}}</ref>
==Personal life== As of July 2021, Hixon has been in a relationship with Canadian swimmer Kennedy Goss.<ref name="business_school"/>
==References== {{Reflist|33em}}
==External links== * {{World Aquatics}} * [https://www.usadiving.org/profiles/michael-hixon-848813 Michael Hixon] at USA Diving * {{Team USA|new_id=michael-hixon-848813|old_id=HI/Michael-Hixon|archive=20220204043238}} * {{Olympedia}} * {{Olympics.com}} * [http://iuhoosiers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7455 Michael Hixon] at Indiana Hoosiers
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hixon, Michael}} Category:Living people Category:1994 births Category:American male divers Category:Divers at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics Category:World Aquatics Championships medalists in diving Category:Olympic silver medalists for the United States in diving Category:Sportspeople from Amherst, Massachusetts Category:Medalists at the 2016 Summer Olympics Category:Divers at the 2016 Summer Olympics Category:Texas Longhorns men's divers Category:Indiana Hoosiers men's divers Category:Divers at the 2019 Pan American Games Category:Medalists at the 2019 Pan American Games Category:Pan American Games bronze medalists for the United States in diving Category:Olympic divers for the United States Category:Divers at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Medalists at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic medalists in diving Category:Amherst Regional High School (Massachusetts) alumni Category:21st-century American sportsmen