Hobie Billingsley did a 3 week tour of Australia. He spent about 10 days with the South Australian Sports Institute. In between working with the SASI team and coaches, Hobie conducted coaching clinics for 3 days in Melbourne, 2 days in Adelaide and 2 days in Brisbane. All up, Hobie worked with about 30 Australian coaches. more

Bennett Ceceila Suba was born on Friday Jan. 25 at 3:08pm. Frist for the Suba's. She was 6 pounds and nineteen inches long. Mom baby and dad are doing great! Dave Suba is the US Diving Jr. Rules Chairman and very involved with our sport. Dave is on the left, Bennett is the smaller one on the right in the photo. more

Ryan Moehnke of Fishers IN. has been named Schroeder YMCA Diving Coach. Moehnke who has spent the last few years coaching with the Indy Starz and John Wingflied, at the US Diving Regional Tranning Center. Moehnke will be replacing Gary Cox who replaced Jay Lewew.

After 12 years as Schroeder YMCA Head Diving Coach and with a total of 16 years of coaching, Gary Cox has stepped down from the coaching ranks to accept a promotion within the YMCA. Gary is staying on with the Schroeder YMCA as Director of Program Operations. Schroeder YMCA is now beginning the search to replace Gary as Head Diving Coach with hopes to fill the position by early January.
The coaching position is a full time salaried appointment with the Schroeder YMCA and Aquatic Center. Included with the position is retirement, health insurance, and paid vacation. All interested parties can contact Gary for further information. Phone: 414-354-9622 EXT 134

Ron Piemonte head coach of Tualatin Hills Dive Club will be moving to Georgia to coach of the Moss Farms Dive Team. This means your next trip to Moultrie may include a fishing expedition!
Photo of old and new Moss Farms coaches at Jr. Worlds 2000.
Moss Farms Diving / Pool Photo

British Diving's new World Class Potential "Junior Olympic Programme Manager", Mykhaylo (Misha) Ugryumov, takes up his new appointment in Great Britain in February 2002. Misha has been the National Coach for Spain for the last 8 years and prior to that was the Ukraine and Soviet Union Coach of the National Diving Team. Misha will work very closely with our National Performance Director, Steve Foley, who also moves over here from Australia, full time in April 2002.

Congratulations are in order for the Wingfields.
With the FINA age group rules in mind Ciara Lynn born Jan. 8th, she weighed in at 5 pounds, 8.5 ounces. To send John an e mail click here.

Long time diving coach Tom Trapp has replaced Ron Piemonte as Head Diving Coach at Tualatin Hills Diving Club. Trapp steps up from his position as assistant coach and assumes his duties as of January, 2002. He has been the assistant coach at the Tualatin Hills Dive Club in Beaverton, Oregon since 1999.more

Brandon Gardner, age group coach at U Texas, resigned effective Jan 1st. George Purdue assistant age group coach for the team will become head coach. Purdue worked with Bill York of York Dive Club of Virginia. Gardner who is from Austin will continue to work in Austin in real estate which he has been involved with since returning to Austin

After 43 years as head diving coach at the University of Michigan, Dick Kimball will retire at the end of the current NCAA season. Kimball is regarded as one of the word's top diving coaches, Dick Kimball made his first appearance as U.S. diving coach at the Tokyo games 1964 and had three Wolverine divers in the competition. He has trained many NCAA, National and Olympic champions. Kimball is also considered the world's greatest trampoline spotter and mentor to many. Thank You.

Olympic Diver Saves Woman from Icy River

He has dived for Olympic glory, but those who saw Jeff Liberty's heroic rescue say his bravery deserves more than any gold medal. The 23-year-old Canadian diving champ dived Monday into the chilly waters of the Bow River to rescue a pregnant woman whose car had careered off Deerfoot Trail. The vehicle crashed through a fence and sped across the busy Lafarge off-leash area into the slow-flowing river. more I even more

The Ring

Congratulations are in order for Laura Wilkinson who is adding diamonds to her collection of precious metals (most notably an Olympic Gold). Laura's fiance, Eriek popped the question last Friday, Laura's 24th Birthday. more on Laura, Laura Wilkinson - video highlights

Ring Photo

Brian Mulligan has been named University of Las Vegas Diving Coach. Mulligan a diving record holder and NCAA Zone qualifier at Villanova. Has a senior Brian Mulligan was named the 2000-01 men's swimming & diving team MVP. Mulligan is a former Boston Area Diving age grouper from Duxbury Mass. Mulligan is excited and looking forward to working with a great program.

Guy Pollino former Boston Area Diver has been named Men's and Women's Diving Coach at Brown University. While at Springfield College from 1987-1991 Pollino was coached by Peter Avdoulos and was a three-time All-American and New England Champion. He comes to Providence Rhode Island after seven years coaching at the University of Massachusetts. That team included numerous Atlantic-10 Conference individual and team champions, and NCAA Zone Qualifiers.

BEIJING - Don't be fooled by the diapers the little girls wear under their leotards, the 4 p.m. watermelon break, or the candy-colored mats that make the sunny gymnasium look like Romper Room.
This is Ground Zero for China's Olympic hopefuls, the cream of the young athletic crop in the capital that will host the 2008 Games. The pint-size dynamos somersaulting through the air, leapfrogging, and doing laps around the carpet on their hands are not playing. more

Whitney and Christophe are recovering very well. Born 9-29-01 at 10:51pm He was 7lbs 14oz and 19 inches. Sound like another lifetime family membership for USD.

Following the successful attainment of Sport England lottery funding for the World Class Start and World Class Potential programme for Diving the ASA is seeking to appoint a National Talent Identification Manager - World Class Start Diving. SALARY: ASA Grade X: To £30,000 plus pension and car more

Wenbo Chen will be named the Purdue Diving Coach. Chen will be taking over the Boilermakers has they start workouts in their new aquatic's complex. Chen has been one of the top age group and senior coaches in the US. Purdue University is in Lafayette IN. New pool photos

Former Univ. of Tennessee diver Lizzy Flynt was named winner for the State of Tennessee, NCAA Women of the year. She is one of 51 State winners covering all sports. 10 finalists will be named on Sept 10th. and the overall winner to be announced Oct.21st. Lizzy, who recently retired, is the third Tennessee diver following Tracy Bonner 1997 and Kathy Pesek 1999, to be honored with the award.She is the only diver on this years list of award winners. Lizzy was the 1997 US Indoor National Champion and 1997and 2000 National team member and 2000 Olympic trialist. more

Sammy Honored at "Diving Odyssey" Update

We had a stage set up in front of the guard office and had a huge back projection screen set up with rotating pictures flashing during the evening. Curt Wilson said a few words on behalf of SPA Diving, I spoke and then we turned out the pool lights and showed a special video that my friend helped me put together for Sammy...it was sooo neat! Not a dry eye in the house!

more I Who'sSam

MISSION VIEJO, CALIF. - Univ. of North Carolina and North Carolina Aquatic Club diving coach Nunzio Esposto just returned from US. Diving Master's Nationals in Mission Viejo, Calif. where he did a real number of the competition. Esposto placed first on the onbe meter with a score of 508.70, first on the three meter with a score of 517.05, first on the platform with a score of 309.25, and first in synchronized diving with Todd Mulzet from Rose Bowl Aquatics with a score of 466.20. more

Sammy to be Honored at "Diving Odyssey"

McCormick divers, announces the 5^th McCormick Divers diving extravaganza, 2001 – A DIVING ODYSSEY, at the Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool in Long Beach on Saturday, October 6, 2001 beginning at 6:00 p.m.
The evening will include a spectacular diving show and a dinner, with silent and live auctions. Tickets for the evening are on sale now and are $40.00 per person (pre-purchase required).  Tickets, only for the diving show, can be purchased in advance or at the door for $5.00 per person. We encourage you to purchase your tickets early as in previous years the event has been sold out! more I WhosSam

GCDivers coach Krista Klein, and her husband Jeff Klein are proud parents of a new baby boy: Reid, Gordon Klein (7pounds, 13 ounces). Ida and Dick Wilson (also Gcdivers coaches) are the very proud grand parents!!!! Krista and Jeff already have 3 other children (Regan, Brice, Carson).

After one year, Morales and assistants Doug Humphrey and Jeff Bro plan to field a team full of their own recruits. For now, however, they must find at least 11 swimmers and divers eligible to open the season Oct. 6. more

Li Kong Rong (KR) will participate in a technical exchange with the US Elite Diving Academy for the next four months. KR has coached in Australia for the past 7 years. KR has worked with the Australian Institute of Sport and most recently for the Queensland Diving Association. KR holds a Masters Degree in Physical Education from the Beijing Institute of China and received the first ever degree conferred in the field of diving in China.While at the Academy KR will be working with Drew Johansen on training programs and techniques for the team.

Is there an opportunity that we are missing from the age group programs on up to the senior/international level? How exciting will the Sr. Zone meets be this weekend? If you go, think about it while you are there. How can these high level meets be marketed differently? Why are we not filling up the bleachers with 1,000's more

Legal Team to assist threatened college swim programs

PHOENIX, July 12. Swimming World, SWIM Magazine and swiminfo.com announced the formation today of a Legal Defense Team to assist in the fight to save college swim and dive programs threatened with elimination. By Phillip Whitten more

Jim Fischer a graduate of Indiana University. Big 10 Finalist, NCAA Championship Finalist, member of the US Diving National Team. Age Group coach under the direction of Olympic Coach Ron O'Brien, one year Head Coach at University of Maryland and five year Head Coach at University of Wisconsin. Fischer has named head age group coach of the Patriot Dive Club

ATLANTA - John Ames, formerly of George Washington University and the Montgomery Dive Club, has been named the diving coach at Georgia Tech, Head Coach for Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Seth Baron announced on Thursday. more

Chuck Knesel succumbs to cancer

Long time diving supporter has succumb to cancer. Chuck Knesel of Austin TX a long time fixture at all major USD meets and most NCAA meets. Chuck and his wife Sherel received to WhoSam Award last year for their contributions to the sport. Knesel was a member of the Board of Director of US Diving. Chuck leaves a sport he loved better off. We know heaven runs on time now.

Nebraska Athletic Director Covered Up Multi-Million Dollar Gift
to Eliminate Men's Swimming

PHOENIX, June 29. AN investigation by swiminfo and Swimming World magazine has uncovered startling new information about the decision to cut men’s swimming at the University of Nebraska. more
Related stories University of Nebraska Discontinues Men’s Swimming and Diving l Iowa State Discontinues Men's Swimming l Out in the Nick of Time

Innovation from busy Beavers I Results

Doug Beavers and the St Peters Rec-Plex in St Peters Missouri was host to an innovative competition that could, over the next several years, alter the direction of Senior Diving in the US. The Gateway Cup International Meet was held June 15-17, and included the Etobicoke Diving Club, The Woodlands Diving Team, Stanford Diving, North Shore Diving, US Elite Diving Academy Schroeder Dive Team and the Lightning Diving Team (St Peters, Missouri) more

Now! The Rumor is True
LINCOLN, Neb. -- University of Nebraska officials announced today that men’s swimming and diving will be discontinued as an intercollegiate sport at Nebraska, beginning with the 2001-2002 season. Nebraska will continue to sponsor the women’s swimming and diving program. more I coaching related story I U. Miami Story

Joining the IU staff this season is Jason Baumann. Jason is former team captain, Big Ten finalist, and NCAA All American for Indiana University. He returns "home" after a successful stint as head diving coach at the University of Wyoming where he was 2001 Mountain West Conference Men's Diving Coach of the Year.

Drew on the Move

Drew Johansen has become a part owner in the US Elite Diving Academy located in Columbus, Ohio.  Drew will arriving in Columbus on April 1^st.  He will be directing his new business and diving team from a recently completed state of the art dry land facility in Columbus.  more

US Elite Diving / 893 Chambers Road / Columbus, OH 43212 /614-299-7525

Kenny Armstrong "look alike" Contest Winners

Jeff Dalman of Auburn WA and Barry Thomas of Tampa Fla.

We've had a overwhelming response to the Kenny Armstrong "look alike" contest. Our judges reviewed over 100's of photos submitted.

The winners are Jeff Dalman of Auburn WA and Barry Thomas of Tampa Fla. Winners will each receive a 14 year old injured gymnast who hopes to make it to the Olympics.

Doug Beavers of the St. Louis Rec Plex was voted "Runner up"

Jana and Romy

Wessel and Marga Zimmermann had their third daughter, Jana, on March 27. The
Zimmermans have to other daughters Romy (3) and Misha (1). Both Wessell and Marga are one time Netherlands National Champions and now coach at the Springschool Zimmermann, just outside of Amsterdam. Wessel is an honors graduate and former diver at the University of Nebraska from 1983-1987. He is also a Medical Doctor when not coaching

Wess and Marga Zimmermann

Hobie Billingsley To Offer Diving Coaches Clinic

Hobie sharing with young coaches

Hobie will be offering a three day clinic on June 1-3, 2001. This is a Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This is a clinic to "TEACH COACHES TO COACH".

Hobie is one of the most successful Diving Coaches of all time. While at Indiana University, he produced many Big Ten, NCAA, National and Olympic Champions. He has served as the USA's representative on International Judging panels including the Olympic Games. He is the Diving's Goodwill Ambassador to the World. Some consider him as the Father of Modern Diving and Coaching in the World. Other Info about "The Man" is contained on this site under "The Hobie Factor". more

Women's NCAA Div.1 Diving

The Montreal Olympic pool Covered

BAD News from Canada -
The 1976 Olympic Pool in Montreal, which has lost money for the city year in and year out, is now being regularly used for other functions. Coaches in the area hope that they can reclaim the pool. The Montreal Olympic pool was the host to many great diving memories including Klaus Dibiasi's last Olympic Gold Medal and the Olympic debut of Greg Louganis.

Van Austin-- Doing Well - Update from Van

I wanted to thank you for everyone. The cards, e-mail's, and phone calls with best wishes and prayers from my diving friends were overwhelming. I am indeed a very lucky man to have friends I have made in diving over the years. Please pass on my thanks to everyone.
I have completed the first phase of my battle with kidney cancer. The doctor removed the right kidney, the adrenal gland and the complete sack which contained the lymphnodes. There was no cancer in the bones, nor does he think it has spread. Only time will tell. I will be having a stint put into one major artery in my heart within the month, then start aggressive treatment.
Currently I am recovering at home, and just recently found the energy to get back on the computer a little each day. Org. Story

Van Austin

Anesa Beard Banned From Indiana High School States

To the bitter disappointment of coach Kurt Hass, the IHSAA has upheld Saturday’s sectional disqualification of Franklin Community High School sophomore diver Anesa Beard.

Easily one of the state’s top divers, Beard was banned from sectional competition for removing an elastic band from her hair and putting it on her wrist before her first dive. more

Anesa Beard

Phillipe Comtois returns to Diving

Good News from Canada -
Phillipe Comtois is training again at CAMO in Montreal. Phillipe had a severe leg injury at the Great Britain Grand Prix last year that forced him to miss the Olympics. He was one of Canada's greatest Olympic hopes prior to the injury. Phillipe Comtois has made a remarkable recovery, and although he has not gained full motion in his foot, he is hurdling on his opposite leg and regaining his list. The old story

Jim Hocking

Out in the Nick of Time Jim Hocking's Farewell

As many of you know by now, I am no longer the Diving Coach at the University of Nebraska. I have received many calls and e-mails of inquiry, and I want to address some issues. Now three weeks into a new career, I can finally catch my breath and begin to communicate some of the feelings I've long held. more I

Laura on Wheaties Box, NOW Available

Donie acceptes coaching position at NYU

Two-time Olympian Scott Donie has accepted the head diving coach position at New York University. NYU a private university located in the heart of the city- Greenwich Village. The diving program competes at the division III level and is part of the University Athletic Association. Competing against schools like Carnegie Mellon, Johns Hopkins and Emory. "I've really been impressed with the type of athletes who compete at this level," said Donie, "these are people who truly love their sport." To contact Scott (212)998-2064

BALLET SCHOOL ACCUSED OF SIZE DISCRIMINATION

Who's Next? The San Francisco Ballet School has been charged with violating the city's new law against size discrimination, because it rejected an 8-year-old girl who did not meet the requirement for having a "well-proportioned, slender body." Krissy Keefer described her daughter Frederika as "short and muscular." School officials said it was "patently untrue" that Frederika was rejected for discriminatory reasons. more at overlawyered.com

Gymnasts must remain on the lean side of lean to be effective competitors at the highest level (Nelson et al., 1983; Sands et al., 1992, 1995). Not surprisingly, concern about excess body weight is common in gymnastics (Anorexia/Bulimia Association, 1994; American College of Sports Medicine, 1997; Leglise, 1998; Nattiv & Lynch, 1994). Female gymnasts and their coaches in the US are therefore reluctant to use weight training, in spite of abundant evidence of the benefits of weight training for sports requiring strength. Their concern is that the gymnast will develop excessive body and muscle mass ("bulk up") and thus become too heavy to perform effectively. more

Recruiting Divers for Age Group Coaches

Part 3 of 6 Thanks to the PDCA

The following are suggestions and ideas from diving coaches around the country about ways to run a successful diving program. You may agree with or not agree with some or all of these points. They are provided as an outline for you to possibly help you improve your diving program and perhaps your standard of living. This idea sheet will continue to grow with more and even better ideas after more people have had the chance to read it and contribute their thoughts and ideas. more

Texas Assistant Diving Coach Hired

Brandon Gardner announced George Perdue, formerly with Bill York and the York Dive Club in Alexandria, VA has been has accepted a job has age group coach with Texas Aquatics

Van Austin Surgery Goes Well.----- Updates will be posted here.

Van Austin was admitted to the hospital with some chest pain on 1-19. Van went through the surgery well. The doctors will know more towards the end of the week. Cami (Van's wife) is very busy with doctors and family. She asked for people to hold off on the phone calls. Ron Piemonte has offered to handle contacts with the diving Community. The address to send cards or flowers to Van is:
Providence Portland Medical Center
4805 NE Glisan St.
Portland, OR 97213

MORE Updates will be posted at USAdiving.com

Van Austin

Sagebrush Diving hires 3 new assistant coaches.

Head Coach Kevin Sage, and new coaches Dan Schunk, Noah Eckert, and Johnna Jaynes

Sagebrush Diving, a relatively new springboard diving club based in Arvada, Colorado, announces the hiring of three new assistant coaches. . Schunk is a former MVP diver from Purdue University. Eckert is a former MVP diver from Northwestern University. Jaynes is a former MVP diver from Standley Lake High School and is currently diving at C.U. in Boulder. more

FINA 3rd Grand Prix Super Final Bangkok (THA) 9-10 Dec. 2000

“Aquatic Centre”, Thammasat University, Rangsit.

By Russell McKinnon FINA Press Commission Member Bangkok, Thailand (Dec 9).-- China's Sang Xue and Wang Tian Ling were first-day winners at the 3rd FINA Diving Grand Prix Super Final at the Thammasart University Rangsit Campus Aquatic Centre here. 2.XU Mian (CHN) 1. SANG Xue ( CHN) 3.ZHUPINA Olena (UKR) Three perfect 10s in her fourth of five dives, gave Sang the lead and ultimately the victory. Sixteen-year-old Sang's perfect showing meant she could hardly be beaten going into the last dive and executed this very well, gaining one nine in a 74.70 and take out the gold medal with a 367.77 score. When asked what she thought of getting three 10s, Sang said: "It just normal." And about that last dive and the need to play it safe for the gold medal and $5000 prize money? "I was a little bit nervous."more

Laura Wilkinson - Diving In Sydney, Laura Wilkinson dove into the record books. Despite breaking bones in her right foot earlier in the year, the 22-year-old Texas native nailed her final two dives in the 10-meter platform final to win the gold medal, the first for the United States since 1964. Wilkinson finished the event with 543.75 points to edge out the heavily favored Chinese and end their 16-year gold medal run at the summer games. Her gold medal performance was one of the most memorable events of the summer games. Prior to Sydney, Wilkinson won her third platform national title at the 1999 summer nationals and the platform gold medal at the 1998 Goodwill Games. (Direct from the Back of the Box)

Montminy was named the female athlete of the year. The 25-year-old law graduate, won two medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She earned silver on women's synchronized 10-metres with partner Emilie Heymans of Montreal and an individual bronze on 10-metre platform, a first ever medal for Canada in the event. She was Canada's only double medallist at the Games. more

June 16-17 Waldkriburg Germany. USA age groupers captures first place at the World Youth Meet. This was the first time the USA sent a full team to the meet, also the first time selecting part of the team off the East West Nationals. The changes in the selection process seems to of worked. A larger more balanced team was able to compete and win. more

USAdiving.com is launching a new section "Diving Ideas."

USAdiving.com is launching a new section on its website of "Diving Ideas." These are ideas from a variety of pools and programs from around the world.. These ideas are designed to help others and spark new ideas. We will add one approximately one a week. If you have any ideas you would like to share with the diving community, please share them.

USD East / West Nationals East Results I West Results

2002 World Masters Games I US Masters Diving