By the time he was a senior at East Chapel Hill High School, winning his third straight N.C. High School Athletic Association championship in record-setting fashion, he knew it was possible.

Now, it’s a reality.

McCrory and diving partner David Boudia handily won the men's 10-meter synchronized event Thursday at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Federal Way, Wash., to earn a spot in the 2012 London Games.

McCrory and Boudia brought a 100-point lead into Thursday evening's 10-meter synchro finals, totaling 919.86 points through their first two lists of dives. After successfully hitting their early 2.0 degree of difficulty dives, McCrory and Boudia continued to strengthen their case for London, receiving three 10s during the final round.

The duo earned 92.13 points in the fourth round on a forward 4 ½ tuck, (a 3.7 degree of difficulty,) before clinching their trip to the Olympics with an 88.11 score on their fifth dive. McCrory and Boudia then closed out the night with a back 2 ½ with 2 ½ twists (a 3.8 DD, higher than any of their competitors) to win the event with a cumulative score of 1387.86.

Almost immediately after emerging from the water, McCrory buried his face in his hands, overcome by the realization he’d reached a goal held since childhood.

"It feels incredible," McCrory said. "This is what I've worked for my entire life. It was a dream as a kid and now it's real life. I just can't believe it yet."

McCrory also had a chance to contend for an Olympic berth in the men's individual 10-meter event Saturday. McCrory, a junior at Duke, was in second behind synchro partner Boudia, a Purdue student who also competed at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, as they headed into the men's 10-meter finals, with the top two finishers set to represent the U.S. in London.

McCrory, the reigning NCAA and ACC champion, had an impressive day of competition in the men’s 10-meter event, leading the field after the preliminary round with a score of 512.80. Despite falling to second behind synchro partner Boudia in the semifinals, McCrory continued to deliver. The Chapel Hill native had 1043.95 points after two rounds of competition. Boudia led heading into Saturday’s finals with a score of 1083.75, followed by McCrory in second and Thomas Finchum (974.95) in third.

(Saturday’s events, including the men’s finals in the 10-meter platform event, were completed too late for today’s edition of the Chapel Hill News. See www.newsobserver.com for results.)

Monday’s final sessions are set to include the preliminary and semifinal rounds of the men’s 3-meter synchronized competition, as well as the women’s 10-meter exhibition event.