American Wilkinson out to prove she's not washed up yet

Though the prime of her career is behind her, American diving veteran Laura Wilkinson can still hold her own in the pool. And if she makes it to Beijing this summer, it will be her third Olympic appearance.

"I love the sport and I think I have the talent for it. Every time, I just want to see where my potential is," Wilkinson said after last week's FINA Diving World Cup in Beijing.

Wilkinson is currently enjoying a healthy stretch of her career, which bodes well for her chances of returning to the Olympic stage.

Her injury woes began during her preparations for the 2000 Sydney Olympics when she broke three bones in her foot six months before the Games.

The injury forced her out of action for about two months, during which time she could only practice by visualizing her dives.

The talented diver got back in the pool just weeks before the US Olympic trials and was able to qualify despite the nagging pain in her foot.

At the Games that year, Wilkinson had to wear a special shoe just to climb the ladder to the top of the diving board.

But she shook off her injury and astonishingly claimed the platform gold for the US, upsetting the favored Chinese divers who had won seven of the previous eight gold medals.

That gold-medal win was also her country's first such medal since 1964, and even though people suggested she should retire after a series of injuries following the Sydney Games, her experience in Australia made her feel rejuvenated.

"I found kind of a passion for the sport again (after the Sydney Games)," she said. "I have so many national titles, I've got the Olympic gold medal, I've got the Goodwill Games, I've got the big ones. I just want to find out what my real potential is, and I don't think I've reached that yet."

Still, many questions remain about whether she still has what it takes to compete at an Olympic level. She finished 5th in Athens 2004, and last week in Beijing she gave a decidedly sub-par performance. She has yet to qualify for this summer's Games.

But Wilkinson shrugged off her poor performance, and remains upbeat.

"I did not play very well. But it's OK as I will have the Olympic trial in June. I always leave the door open to the opportunities."

Wilkinson's optimism and confidence stem from her love of life and are reinforced by her vigorous daily training sessions, despite her years of injuries.

"I am enjoying every moment of my career right now. There is nothing that could distract me. I do not care about the points I get or the mistakes I make.

"I still try to go between six to eight hours a day for training. I am still intelligent. Although I have injuries, I have found ways to train smart. I love it and it's fine. You know, when you enjoy what you are doing, it's no problem."

At 31, Wilkinson still maintains a training schedule nearly identical to her younger years - cardio to warm up in the morning followed by a series of dry-land exercises, somersaults on the mats, and then to the water for about two hours, lunch, and then a repeat of the process in the afternoon.

Wilkinson knows what it takes to win and is determined to extend her career as long as possible.

"Do not ever give it up. You know you have ups and downs and you have good days and bad days but you never give up."

She said the moment of winning the Olympic gold was a "great moment" but what she really loves is the experience of making friends in major tournaments.

"It's a great moment but I have so many awesome moments. But I can make so many friends in the pool and that's my favorite part."

(China Daily 03/04/2008 page23)