Wednesday, August 8, 2012

SPORTS Divers focus on the future Olympics



By Astara March, Water Citizen staff writer

The Shinholser brothers - Colby, Logan, and TJ - have big dreams about diving in Rio de Janeiro at the summer Olympics in 2016, and they just might make it. 

Logan participated in the Olympic trials this year but didn't qualify for the team.  He expects that to be different next time. 

All three say that diving gives them a sense of being part of something bigger than themselves and the thought of going to the Olympics to represent their country makes things really exciting.

"It's funny, because it's a small sport compared to swimming," Logan told Water Citizen. "Everyone knows everyone else and is really nice, like a big family that helps each other all the time.  Even at a high-pressure event, we all hang out together.  It's not testosterone-driven like swimming or wrestling."

Preparing for the Olympics by diving in college is a time-honored path.  All three brothers trust their coaches to mold them into world-class competitors.  Logan's college had five people in the Olympic trials this year.  He said you qualify by participating in the finals of a national event, which in his case was the NCAA championships in Los Angeles in 2011. 

The brothers followed their older sister Amanda into gymnastics, realized it wasn't for them, and switched to diving.  Logan is an individual and synchronized 10-meter "tower" diver but his brothers are 3-meter springboard specialists.  TJ stuck to springboard because the injury rate is lower.  "The 10-meter divers hit the water going 35 mph," said Logan.  "The injury rate for tower is really high.  It's easier to calm your fears on springboard."  

The beauty of the sport effectively hides its health risks.  The brothers told Water Citizen that those risks start with breathing the chlorine used by most places to disinfect their public pools.  UVA where Colby goes to school has a chlorine system but Virginia Tech, Logan's school, has an ultraviolet sterilization system that cuts down the chlorine exposure considerably.  So do all the pools used for Olympic events in London.

The most significant risk comes from the impact of hitting the water over and over again during training.  "Water is hard when you hit it from high up," said Logan. "Even if you do everything right, it hurts.  Springboard may send you up to 7 meters and tower is 10 meters.  You have to grab your hands so the impact falls on them and they make a little pocket in the water for you to go through.  If you don't, you take the impact on your head and can get a concussion." 

Other divers Water Citizen interviewed talked about neck, shoulder, and back injuries and commented on the kinesiotape you can see on the Olympic divers to help them power through the pain.

Olympic venues are designed to both allow as many people as possible to view the events and to make sure they are comfortable while doing so.  "The Olympic venue in London is huge," said Logan.  "There's a diving well, then two 50-meter pools, then a warm-down pool.  That means it's not steamy like most pools and the spectators are happy.  It's so big it's like diving outdoors with a roof over you."

Logan said that the swimming pools will have cooler water than the diving well. "It's easier to swim in colder water," he told Water Citizen, "but diving pools can be any temperature you like."

All three are aiming for the 2016 Olympics in Rio if their coaches think they have a chance.  They are currently college students juggling full schedules with the 20 hour per week commitment of competitive diving. 

Colby and Logan are in engineering, which means diving in the early morning and studying late into the night.  Colby also has ROTC to contend with.  "I don't envy him at all," said Logan, "but he'll figure it out.  He's really good at time management."  TJ says he is more academic and less focused on diving than his brothers and that's fine with him. 

All three have the support of their family and their teammates at their respective schools.  We wish them the very best.

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