Monday, July 28, 2008

Tension on the Diving Team? Laura Wilkinson says No

After the stress of cutthroat Olympic trials competitions, no one would expect Team USA to be one, big, happy family -- especially not the Diving Team. Laura Wilkinson and Jessica Livingston reportedly sought in arbitration to remove Mary Beth Dunnichay and Haley Ishimatsu as the 10-meter synchro diving team.

Now, Laura Wilkinson (unlike Livingston) is heading to Beijing to compete in diving, alongside Mary Beth Dunnichay and Haley Ishimatsu. Will the messy trials dispute ruin the mood for Team USA?

No, says Wilkinson. "We were friends before and I'm sure we'll be friends through it."

Ishimatsu echoes that sentiment.

Once the divers are in actual competition, representing the U.S. against other countries, they are bound to feel united in a common cause. But the Olympics are not just about national competition -- events like diving are profoundly individualistic. Personal rivalries inevitably arise, even on the same team.

 

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