Olympian Sister Of Upstate Teacher Visits Riverside Middle

It's been a good summer for the Johnston family. 

Adrienne Johnston, who was named the Secondary Emerging Teacher of the Year in the Greenville County School District just weeks ago, teaches spanish at Riverside Middle School. 

Riverside Middle was whipped into a frenzy early Friday morning when Adrienne's sister, Abby, visited. Abby had what you might call a strong summer as well, winning the silver medal in this summer's Olympics for synchronized diving. 

"I just came here today to visit my sister and see her teach," Abby said. "I came in last night." 

The Johnston sisters are from Columbia, Ohio, and have enjoyed keeping up with each other's successes. With Adrienne in the midst of a crowd of hundreds of children vying to get their pictures taken with the Olympic champion, Abby reflected on what an incredible experience its been for her family. 

"It's been just amazing," Abby said. "She's been working really hard on her teaching and I've been working hard on my sport. It's very special. We've been joking that this is the year of the Johnston sisters." 

Abby said she hopes to compete in the 2016 Olympics, but said she has some injuries she has to get mended by then. In the meantime, she wants to go to medical school.

Her Olympic hopes turned from a dream deferred to a dream realized. She grew up watching the Olympics as an aspiring gymnast. When an injury ended her gymnast career, she turned to diving in 2007. Now, she has a silver medal around her neck, and an award-winning sister to boot.