By Ernie Geigenmiller
Two-time Olympic diver Christina Loukas is in London now getting ready for her moment in the international spotlight. It’s one of those experiences most young children dream about, but for Loukas, she gets to live out this dream – for a second time.
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Two-time Olympian Christina Loukas in London. Loukas provided
this photo. |
It’s a precious time for Loukas and her incredibly supportive Chicago-based family.
We got to meet her family at the US Diving Olympic Trials in June, at Federal Way, WA, and we got to experience the incredible pain and joy that brought Loukas to the 2012 Olympic Games.
At the Women’s 3m Synchro Springboard Finals, Loukas and partner Kassidy Cook were doing well, but not doing their best (that’s what she told me after the fact). Even so, after their final dive of the night, they were in first place. I recall telling my son, who was experiencing his first Olympic Trials event, “those two are headed to the Olympics.” We were excited for them. There was only dive left, and that was with Abby Johnston and two-time Olympian Kelci Bryant.
Loukas and Cook outscored the winners on every dive in the finals but wound up losing by less than one point of totals that were near 1,000. The final score was 956.40 to 955.98.
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Loukas and diving partner Kassidy Cook
at the 2012 US Diving Olympic Trials.
Photo by Lacamas Magazine. |
Johnston and Bryant would go to the London Summer Games instead. Congratulations to them!
Everyone just looked at the scoreboard, and then the event ended. We watched a devastated Loukas and Cook, and then turned to their family – who left the aquatic center fairly quickly.
“I was really upset,” said Loukas. “It was devastating, and it all went to pieces instantly. We just let out our emotions that night. We did well at the finals, but we just missed making the team by three-tenths of a point. It hit me hard that I missed the Olympics, but I knew I had the individuals coming up on Saturday.”
Loukas said she was in complete shock.
“I sat down with my coach and cried it all out, but realized I needed to be ready for the individual’s competition,” she added. “Our family went out to a restaurant afterwards and then we had to re-live the entire experience because it was on TV there. It was awful.”
She had to quickly turn her attention to the individual’s 3m springboard competition two days later. That was her only shot at a return to the Olympics.
“On Saturday, I knew I couldn’t miss a dive and I did what I needed to do,” she said. “I knew I had a buffer so there was comfort in that, but I had to stay on game. When I made the team on Saturday it was just total relief.”
She was London-bound.
Following the 3m springboard finals, she took a couple of days off, and then hit training hard.
So how did Christina arrive here?
She started off early in life as a gymnast in the Chicago area.
“The Magnificent 7 at the 1996 Olympics were a great motivation for me,” she recalled. “I had been doing gymnastics for a long time, and I had just begun diving and my coach told me I could make the Olympics.”
Loukas started diving at age 12. She dove through high school, setting new records and turning heads along the way. She went to Indiana University, and was coached by Jeff Huber.
She made the 2008 Olympic team and enjoyed her experience in China, but also left feeling she hadn’t performed her best. Two years later, she went to grad school and took time off from the sport she loved.
She thinks that break time did wonders for her soul.
And her mother, Patty, agrees.
“At first we were concerned she wouldn’t come back to diving,” Patty said. “But the break did wonders for her.”
After her break from diving, she re-entered the sport in October 2010 and practices in The Woodlands, Texas. She practices Monday through Friday twice a day, and also does Pilates and yoga. She is coached by Kenny Armstrong.
Christina says “diving is about taking yourself out of your comfort zone. It’s about overcoming fear. My favorite part is hearing the crowd screaming afterwards. It’s so rewarding.”
Her mother told us: “I can’t believe she’s a two-time Olympian! I told her Olympians are such great examples. Olympians are special.”
The road to London has been filled with emotions. It’s been a hard road.
“That night when she lost by less than a point was devastating,” Patty said. “Her coach told her ‘you can cry tonight but tomorrow you have to turn it around’ and she did. Saturday at the individual finals was a much better day.”
Before each dive, Christina gets a few cues from her coach to initiate the dive, then “once I get on that board I just let my body do the rest.”
“Coach Kenny was fantastic throughout all this,” Patty added. “This is about performing your best under pressure. It’s a tough sport, and the family support is important.”
Christina’s family is VERY supportive. Patty said 17 family members traveled to Beijing in 2008, and a large family contingency is taking the trip to London.
“My job is to make the travel arrangements,” said Patty. “This is going to be so much fun!”
So how does it feel to be a two-time Olympian?
“It makes me feel like I made the right choice to come back,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to this Olympics. I feel like I didn’t dive my best at the Trials, so there’s room to do better in London. My goals this time are higher. I have more confidence.”
Loukas traveled to a Maryland training camp on July 12 and then headed to London on July 16. Upon arrival, she was outfitted by the Olympic Committee and then on July 19 she went to Sheffield, England for additional training, and to “get out of the Olympic Village.”
“I know the diving team very well,” Loukas said. “I’ve been in competition with them for years. We’re all really close, but it’s an individual sport so we’re all very competitive. We respect each other and know we’ve all earned those spots on the team.”
“My family has been awesome,” she said. “They’ve always been very supportive and my mom isn’t a crazy sports mom.”
Her father, George, spoke to us at the aquatic center. He was sitting quietly, awaiting family members. “There is so much emotion in this sport,” he said. “There have been so many up’s and down’s and these divers don’t get the attention they deserve until the Olympics come around. Look at what they do. It’s amazing.”
It really is.
Diving is a challenging and graceful sport, and these athletes are physically and mentally strong. In addition to their diving practice, they do “dryland” workouts to ensure their muscles are conditioned and prepared for competitions.
So, what has diving done for Christina?
“It has given her a strength and perseverance,” said Patty. “She has a great work ethic and has gotten to travel the world to become among the best of the best. She’s an elite athlete and I’m happy for her.”
Loukas begins diving on August 3 at the London Olympics.
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Loukas, front row, fourth from left, with members of the US Diving
Olympic Team. Back row, from left: David Boudia, Nick McCrory, Troy Dumais,
Kristian Ipsen, Chris Colwill, Brittany Ann, Abby Johnston, Kelci Bryant,
Katie Bell, Christina Loukas, Cassidy Krug, Brittany Ann.
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