Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook Share Origin of Their ‘Cook'N Bacon’ Nickname: ‘Shout Out Our Dads’ (Exclusive)

The American synchronized divers were the first Team USA athletes to medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics

Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook were cookin' on Saturday when they gave Team USA their first medal of the Summer Olympics.

The diving duo — who won silver in the women's synchronized 3M on Saturday, July 27 during the first day of the 2024 Games — truly lived up to their "Cook'N Bacon" nickname with their second-place finish, which they explained the origins of to PEOPLE.

Bacon, 27, and Cook, 29, say that they've known each other since their Olympic dreams were just beginning.

"We've been competing against one another ever since we were little kids just back in the day in junior diving," says Cook.

Bacon says, "We realized it was a great name then."

And now as Olympic partners, the nickname is almost kismet. "We were always going one and two," Cook continues, referring to their diving order. "So it was always 'Cook'N Bacon' and when we started doing synchro, it just kind of flowed together, so it started there."

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Cook, a Stanford University alum, says she and her diving partner "had to take advantage of the names," and adds, "Shout out our dads for the last names," as Bacon excitedly echoes crediting their fathers.

The Cook'N Bacon duo finished second behind gold medalists Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen from China, and ahead of third-place finishers Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen from Great Britain.

Beyond the compliment of their last names, Cook and Bacon say their Olympic success is due to their strong bond in and out of the pool.

"I think having a connection outside of the pool as well as in the pool and in all aspects of diving is super important because we really get one another," says Cook.

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"We have very similar personalities, similar histories and I think, you know, sharing this experience with her and all the ups and downs of our athletic careers have only makes this medal this right here more special."

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For Bacon, she tells PEOPLE she's "so proud" of her diving partner "for overcoming so much adversity throughout her career."

"She's been through more injuries than anyone that I've ever known and to just keep pushing through and staying in there by my side means the world to me and I'm just so proud of you for it all," Bacon tells Cook as the duo speaks to PEOPLE.

"You know, having one of my best friends by my side that knows what it takes, knows what I've been through and I know what she's been through and, you know, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world," Cook adds.

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